FX.co ★ Protests in Belarus continue. Lukashenko changes strategy

On August 9, presidential election took place in Belarus. Prior to the election, Alexander Lukashenko's main rivals Sergei Tikhanovsky and Viktor Babariko were imprisoned, while Valery Tsepkalo was not registered as a presidential candidate. However, Mr. Lukashenko, Europe's longest-serving ruler, allowed Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the wife of imprisoned Sergei Tikhanovsky, to participate in the election race. Surprisingly, she received tremendous support from Belarusian citizens. Notably, Lukashenko banned independent polls, as well as exit polls. However, according to private surveys, Tikhanovskaya won the election receiving no less than 70% of the vote.

However, the Central Election Commission declared Lukashenko the winner with 80% of the vote. These were preliminary results. The official ones were supposed to be released on August 14, but were postponed to August 18.

Belarusians however are not willing to accept the victory of Mr. Lukashenko. Tens of thousands of people in all cities across the country come to the streets every night protesting.

Lukashenko responded with brutal violence. Police used flash and noise grenades, rubber bullets, water cannons, and tear gas against peaceful protesters.

Police grabbed people on the streets and savagely beat even those who did not resist. As it turned out late, not all of the people detained were protesters at all.

The county had been in chaos for three days. There was no access to the Internet. Interestingly, Alexander Lukashenko blamed the country's Internet blackouts on hostile foreign countries.

However, people did not leave the streets. Moreover, Lukashenko's fear became a reality: the largest state-owned companies of Belarus came out on a strike against him demanding a fair election.

The EU also spoke out against violence in Belarus. Today, on August 14, the EU foreign minister will meet to discuss the situation in Belarus.

Lukashenko is trapped. On the one hand, there is the EU. On the other hand, there is Putin who is pressuring him towards integration with Russia, as well as civil unrest in Belarus.

On August 13, Lukashenko drastically changed his tactics: he gave access to the Internet and released some protesters from prison. Moreover, police stopped grabbing and beating civilians. The protests that took place on August 13 were relatively peaceful. There is information that Lukashenko is planning to address to the nation.

At the same time, the strike against Lukashenko is growing every day, which is a key element in the confrontation.

Tikhanovskaya, the de facto elected president, was forced to flee the country threatened by the KGB of Belarus. Her husband is still in prison.