Belarus election challenger ‘safe’ in Lithuania after more clashes

The main challenger in Belarus’s disputed presidential election is “safe” in Lithuania, the Baltic state’s foreign minister said, after a second night of street clashes between police and opposition supporters left a protester dead.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has claimed victory over authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in Sunday’s vote, “arrived in Lithuania and is safe,” Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told the Agence France-Presse (AFP).

He did not provide any further details but EU and NATO member Lithuania, which like Belarus was once part of the Soviet Union, has a history of granting refuge to Belarusian and Russian opposition figures.

Tikhanovskaya’s whereabouts had been unclear after campaign staff said they had lost contact with her and there had been concern for her safety.

Her surfacing in Lithuania came after thousands took to the streets of the capital Minsk for a second night on Monday, August 10, to contest claims by authorities that longtime ruler Lukashenko had secured a sixth term with 80% of the vote.

Tikhanovskaya, a political novice who has energized the opposition, came second with 10% and protesters are backing her claim to have won the election.

For the second night in a row, police used rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas to disperse demonstrations, though protesters fought back with stones and fireworks and built makeshift barricades, AFP reporters, protesters and witnesses said.

“Too many people are against Lukashenko,” Pavel, a 34-year-old protester, told AFP.

“Our goal is to depose Lukashenko. He is not worthy of being president.”

Dozens of people have been injured in the violence and the first fatality was confirmed on Monday when police said a man died after an explosive device went off in his hand.

Olga Kovalkova, a member of Tikhanovskaya’s staff, said she believed the candidate had left the country against her will after meeting with officials on Monday at the Central Election Commission.

“The Belarusian authorities took Svetlana to Lithuania. She had no choice,” Kovalkova said. “Before entering the Central Election Commission, she had no plans to leave the country. It was not her decision.”

Her spokeswoman Anna Krasulina said the opposition movement would continue even if Tikhanovskaya was no longer in the country.

“Her departure does not change anything, she did what she could, raised and inspired the people,” Krasulina told AFP.

“The people will act without her, they are protesting not for Tikhanovskaya but for themselves.”

‘Intimidation of opposition’

Lukashenko’s opponents have called for running protests against his regime and there were calls for a nationwide strike.

The 37-year-old mother of two decided to run for president after the authorities jailed her husband, popular blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky, and barred him from contesting.

Her campaign galvanised the opposition, presenting a historic challenge to former collective farm director Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, brooking no dissent and earning the nickname of “Europe’s last dictator”.

Western governments have widely condemned the police crackdown, with some in the European Union suggesting it may reimpose sanctions on Lukashenko’s regime that were lifted several years ago.

The White House said it was “deeply concerned” by the violence, adding that “intimidation of opposition candidates and the detention of peaceful protesters” were among numerous factors that marred the election and its aftermath.

European governments also questioned the results, with Germany voicing “strong doubts” about the conduct of the vote, France urging restraint and Poland calling for an emergency EU summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Lukashenko, a longtime ally, as did Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Lukashenko was defiant on Monday, vowing he would not allow Belarus to be “torn apart” and suggesting protesters were foreign pawns.

“We recorded calls from abroad. There were calls from Poland, Britain and the Czech Republic, they were directing our – forgive me – sheep,” he said. – Rappler.com