BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
21/12/2010
More arrests in Belarus after Lukashenko's win
Police in Belarus arrested several protesters who braved the snowy weather to unfurl a banner with the slogan saying "get out" referring to the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko.
The last twenty-four hours have seen the detention of seven of his nine challengers and hundreds of opposition demonstrators in a crackdown against his critics.
The US and the EU have led the calls for their release. Some could face up to 15 years in prison for taking part in post election protests.
In a defiant speech following western criticism of the election, Lukashenko said there would be no more "senseless democracy" in Belarus.
Meanwhile the wife of the opposition leader Vladimir Neklyayev told theOrganisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) of the moment her husband was arrested in hospital.
Olga Neklyayeva was clearly angry as she complained, "I can't imagine how they could do what they did in front of his wife. They held me. I was shouting - no one came to help, not the doctors, not the police who were there on duty, not the nurses."
Neklyayev was beaten by police on election night.
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994 was officially declared the presidential winner with nearly 80 percent of votes.
Source:
http://www.euronews.net/2010/12/21/more-arrests-in-belarus-after-lukashenko-s-win/
Archive
Subscribe Daily Newsletter:
