Residents of Lithuania on 23 August lined up in a human chain 35 km long in solidarity with the Belarusian protesters. The participants of the “Path to Freedom” action were supported by President Gintanas Nauseda.
According to “Ridus”, he also took part in the event.
The Lithuanians formed a chain from the Cathedral Square in the center of Vilnius to the Medininkai post on the border with Belarus.
One of the organizers of the action on the air of the state television and radio LRT noted that about 50 thousand people took part in it.
On August 23, Belarusians took part in another rally against the results of the presidential elections and the re-election of the current head of state, Alexander Lukashenko.
The protesters gathered in the Independence Square, then moved to the stele “Minsk-Hero City”, and then to the State Flag Square, located near the residence of Lukashenka.
Press Secretary of the President of the Republic Natalia Eismont accused the audience of attempting to storm the Palace of Independence. Telegram channels reported on preparations for the evacuation of Lukashenka and the arrival of a government helicopter at the residence. As it turned out, the president flew around the parts of Minsk, where the protesters had gathered, and came back.
The EU countries, the USA and Canada expressed their support for the Belarusian opposition and refused to recognize the election results. Lukashenko accused them of interfering in internal affairs and organizing protests.
Lithuania became one of the centers of “confrontation” with Lukashenka, threatening Minsk with sanctions and opening its borders to receive Belarusians “fleeing from political pressure”. In addition, it was to Vilnius that the opposition candidate Svetlana Tihanovskaya left.