Again, the protest occurred in the Minsk, the Belarusian capital on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. At that time, tens of thousands of opposition supporters marched, despite the government of Belarusian deploying a heavy police presence.
Military trucks and vehicles have rolled into the Minsk. They were calling for the departure of longtime President Alexander Lukashenko.
Tens of thousand people holding red-and-white protest flags. They were gathered and occupied the whole of a central avenue. And they also walked towards the heavily guarded Palace of Independence, the offices of Lukashenko.
The protest movement has been holding mass rallies every week since the disputed election win of Lukashenko on August 9.
Riot police in black balaclavas sporadically detained protesters carrying flags and signs at the start, while some people took shelter in a shopping mall and in a fast-food restaurant to escape arrest.
Belarusian opposition news sites posted video and photos of the military convoy driving into central Minsk and bringing rolls of barbed wire with it.
Belarusian interior ministry spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova said on Sunday police detained 415 people in Minsk, and 15 in other cities, for breaking rules on mass demonstrations. But, 385 had been released.
Lukashenko has dismissed opposition calls for his resignation and sought help from Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who has promised law enforcement backup if needed and a USD 1.5bn loan.
