Tens of thousands of protesters in Belarus have rallied for the biggest demonstration yet against the disputed re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko, even as the leader rejected calls to step down and hold fresh polls.
In a defiant speech at a rally of his supporters in capital Minsk’s Independence Square, a defiant Lukashenko said Belarus would “die as a state if it agreed to hold new elections under pressure” and accused NATO of massing on his country’s western border.
“I called you here not to defend me … but for the first time in a quarter-century, to defend your country and its independence,” said the 65-year-old leader.
Belarus has been rocked by a week of street protests after protesters accused Lukashenko of rigging a presidential election last Sunday in which he claimed to have secured 80 percent of the votes.
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for the last 26 years and is facing the greatest challenge to his leadership, denies the allegation.
“I am not a fan of rallies but alas, it’s not my fault I had to call you to help me,” he said as some 5,000 supporters waved national flags and shouted: “Thank you!” and “Belarus!”
Wiping his brow, the president, standing at a podium in a short-sleeved shirt, insisted on the legitimacy of the presidential election in which he claimed victory over popular opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
“The elections were valid. There could not be more than 80 percent of votes falsified. We will not hand over the country,” he said.
He warned of a threat from neighbouring NATO countries as well as from the opposition movement calling for new elections, as the crowd shouted “No!”
‘Lukashenko must answer’
Lukashenko’s rally coincided with the opposition movement calling for nationwide “March of Freedom” protests, which saw tens of thousands gathered in Minsk.
Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen, reporting from Minsk, said Lukashenko’s rally was “hastily organised” and “dwarfed” in comparison to the opposition protest.
Chanting “Leave!”, his opponents marched down Independence Avenue following a call for the biggest rally yet in a week of demonstrations since the presidential vote. Some carried a 100-metre-long red and white flag, once the state flag and now used to represent opposition to the current regime.
Demonstrators raised victory signs and held flowers and balloons, with many wearing white, the colour that has come to symbolise the opposition movement. Those marching included a group of veteran paratroopers in uniform berets.
“It’s unbelievable what I am seeing here right now, there are up to 100,000 people here. Huge crowds,” said Vaessen. “This is not something Lukashenko was not expecting.”
Demonstrators held placards with slogans such as “We are against violence” and “Lukashenko must answer for the torture and dead”.
A violent police crackdown on protesters saw more than 6,700 people arrested, hundreds wounded and two people dead. Many protesters alleged they were tortured in custody.
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Lukashenko’s challenger Tikhanovskaya, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania on Tuesday, had called for the weekend protests and an election recount. Her campaign announced she was starting to form a national council to facilitate a transfer of power.
Earlier on Sunday, Lukashenko spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who told the Belarusian leader that Moscow was ready to provide help in accordance with a collective military pact if necessary, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, the brutal suppression of post-election protests in Belarus has drawn harsh criticism by Western countries and the United Nations.
European Union foreign ministers said on Friday that they rejected the election results in Belarus and began drawing up a list of officials in Belarus who could face sanctions for their role in the crackdown.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday said he was glad to see that some protesters in Belarus had been freed but that it was not enough. He said the presidential poll fell short of democratic standards.
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Will the President of Belarus survive protests against his rule? (25:00)
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SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies