Serbia refused to take part within the navy workout routines “Slavic Brotherhood – 2020”, which have been to happen within the second half of September on the Brestsky coaching floor. This was introduced on Wednesday, September 9, by the Minister of Defense of Serbia Aleksandar Vulin.
According to him, Belgrade has come below “robust and undeserved” strain from Brussels – the management of the European Union has strongly really useful to refuse to take part in joint maneuvers with Russia and Belarus. “We were asked, putting our European future on the line … to abandon the planned military exercises with Belarus,” Vulin mentioned. As a consequence, the impartial state of Serbia freezes all navy workout routines with any nation for six months.
Relations between Belgrade and Minsk
Alexander Lukashenko observes navy workout routines close to Grodno (August 2020)
Serbia and Belarus preserve good bilateral relations, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko visited Belgrade in December 2019. At the identical time, Belgrade seeks to affix the EU and has supported European criticism of the Belarusian presidential elections held in August, not recognizing them as both truthful or free. The arrival of the Serbian navy in Belarus was deliberate for September 10-15. The navy workout routines “Slavic Brotherhood” are held yearly, in 2019 they have been held in Serbia.
The mass protests in Belarus, which started after the presidential elections on August 9, at which, in response to the CEC, Lukashenka gained with 80% of the vote, have been occurring for the second month. In the primary days, about 7,000 individuals have been detained, 4 individuals have been killed.
Serbian President was dissatisfied with Maria Zakharova
Earlier, on September 6, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic sharply spoke in regards to the Facebook put up of the official consultant of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, calling it “primitive and vulgar.” Zakharova revealed a photograph collage, combining the picture of Vucic throughout his talks with US President Donald Trump with a body from the film “Basic Instinct”.
Azerbaijan refused to take part in Russian workout routines
Also on September 6, it grew to become identified that Azerbaijan refused to take part within the Caucasus-2020 navy workout routines, deliberate in September in southern Russia. India did this even earlier, so now the navy of solely 4 international locations will participate in them: Belarus, Myanmar, Iran and Pakistan.
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Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
The starting of the protests
After the closing of polling stations on August 9, hundreds of Belarusians took to the streets of Minsk and different cities to specific their protest. At that point, the outcomes of the official exit ballot have been introduced, in response to which Alexander Lukashenko gained about 80% of the votes, his fundamental rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya – about 7%.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
First arrests
There have been big queues on the polling stations. Not everybody managed to vote. After closing at 20 o’clock, individuals stayed at some polling stations and demanded to put up the ultimate protocols. The first arrests by riot policemen befell.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Spontaneous actions
Mass protests started at 21:00 native time. In Minsk, the principle buildings and squares have been cordoned off upfront by the safety forces and blocked off with navy tools. Central metro stations have been closed. Protests befell spontaneously and in numerous components of town.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Rally factors for protesters
The fundamental place of protest in Minsk was Pobediteley Avenue, with the “Minsk – Hero City” stele positioned on it, in addition to the central avenue Nemiga intersecting the avenue. According to numerous estimates, as much as 5,000 residents of the capital gathered there. In different cities, individuals protested within the central squares.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Thirst for change
Many protesters carried historic white-red-white flags. The slogans sounded: “Go away”, “Freedom”, “Police with the individuals” and Tsoi’s track “Change”. Cars passing by have been honking protesters in assist. Flashlights on cell phones have became a sea of lights.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Appeals for peace
Night protests befell not solely within the capital, but in addition in all regional facilities – Brest, Grodno, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Gomel, in addition to small cities, particularly, in Novopolotsk, Soligorsk, Baranovichi, Lida, Zhodino, Kobrin, Volkovysk, Slonim, Polotsk, Bobruisk, Molodechno. People appealed to the riot police with an attraction to decrease their shields and go over to their facet.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
The starting of overclocking and the usage of particular tools
After 10 pm, a “cleanup” operation started in Minsk. Rows of riot policemen with shields moved in the direction of one another, forcing the protesters from the streets and squares. Not with out clashes with riot police. During the dispersal of the protest rallies, the safety forces used stun grenades, firecrackers, rubber bullets, and water cannons towards the protesters. There have been additionally experiences within the media about the usage of tear gasoline.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Road barricades and casualties
On Pobediteley Avenue, protesters erected rubbish cans barricades to dam the highway. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, greater than 50 residents and 39 safety officers have been injured throughout the clashes per day. The human rights heart “Viasna” additionally reported one one who died as a result of collision of particular tools. The Ministry of Internal Affairs denied this info. One video on social media reveals a paddy wagon flattening a protester in Minsk.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Riot cost
By 1 am Belarusian time, the police in Minsk took the scenario below management. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, as of August 10, a complete of about 3000 individuals have been detained, about 1000 within the capital and greater than 2000 in different areas of the republic. They are accused of riots and violence towards the police.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
The diploma of violence has risen
On the evening of August 11, the protests continued, changing into extra violent. Military tools appeared in Minsk, which had not beforehand been used to disperse demonstrations in Belarus. Photo and video from the scene present that the protesters are utilizing Molotov cocktails. And the safety forces throw flash-noise grenades at a shifting automobile, after which the motive force steps on the gasoline and crashes into a gaggle of riot police.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
The first victims
On August 10, an explosion occurred on Pritytsky Street in Minsk, because of which one of many protesters died. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, an explosive system detonated within the man’s fingers, which he needed to throw on the cops. At the identical time, the authors of the Belarus Brain Telegram channel imagine that the person may have died after the safety forces threw a flash and noise grenade at his toes.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Protests proceed
On the evening of August 12, residents of the nation got here out to protest in 25 cities. According to the Ministry of Health, 51 protesters and 14 representatives of the police and inner troops have been injured final evening. The investigating authorities have initiated 17 legal circumstances.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Daytime peaceable protests
At the Komarovsky market in Minsk on the afternoon of August 12, 250 ladies with roses of their fingers lined up in a sequence – as an indication of solidarity with those that suffered from violence lately. Soon the police appeared and thru a loudspeaker demanded to disperse, warning about “the duty established by regulation.” The ladies shouted “Shame!”, Laid flowers on the bottom and dispersed. The identical actions befell in different cities of the nation.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Aleksievich urged Lukashenka to resign
On the night of August 12, protests have been once more held in numerous cities of the nation, this time ending with out violent clashes with the safety forces. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, one other 700 individuals have been detained per day. In Gomel, a 25-year-old boy died after being arrested. Several TV presenters wrote letters of resignation from state TV, and Nobel laureate Svetlana Aleksievich urged Lukashenko to step down.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Detainees started to be launched
For the primary time, the evening of 13-14 August handed with out violence towards the protesters. From the Center for Isolation of Offenses of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of the Minsk City Executive Committee, identified in Minsk as “Akrestsina”, they started to launch these detained on the protest actions. Many of them talked about torture, overcrowded cells, and complained of starvation and thirst. Someone wanted medical consideration.
Protests in Belarus after the presidential elections: the way it occurred
Tough response to protesters
The present presidential elections grew to become the sixth within the historical past of contemporary Belarus – probably the most intense and unprecedented when it comes to the severity of the crackdown on protests, as observers word.
