Hundreds detained in post-election protests. Multiple injured. One reported dead
Viasna is aware of at least 70 protesters detained last night in Minsk.
Riot police dispersed a series of post-election protests held in Minsk and other cities of Belarus. Excessive violence, tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons were used against the peaceful protesters in Minsk. Several people were injured, including one protester reportedly run over by a police van. There are also reports of several demonstrators hospitalized after suffering injuries from stun grenades.
- People carrying a protester injured by a stun grenade in a post-election protest in Minsk. August 9, 2020. Photo: svaboda.org
Thousands of people took to the streets to protest the official exit polls which awarded a landslide victory to the incumbent Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
According to the Central Election Commission's official statement announced this morning, Lukashenka won the presidential election with around 80% of the votes. The alternative candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya came second with nearly 10%.
Meanwhile, both Tsikhanouskaya's supporters and domestic observers say the election was rigged, as numerous violations were reported at the polling stations. The voter turnout was inflated and the vote count was not transparent, the observers say.
UPD. One protester reportedly died, according to a reliable source. The protester was reportedly run over by a police truck after the vehicle was steered into a crowd of demonstrators. Dozens injured protesters are in hospitals.
The total number of people detained yesterday is currently around 220 people, as of 10 am. These include at least 55 election observers.
UPD. 12 pm. Viasna knows the names of about 300 detained protesters, including 120 in Minsk. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, some 3,000 were detained last night, including 1,000 in Minsk. The Ministry of Health said over 50 protesters and 39 police officers were injured.