Thousands Attend Farewell to Slain Man, Protests Outside TV Company and Marches in Cities: How Belarus Protested on the First Weekend

Belarus's Saturday in photographs.

While on weekdays protests in Belarus unfolded in the evenings or through strikes at large enterprises, on Saturday — the first weekend after election day — Alexander Lukashenko's government faced new challenges. People were no longer burdened by work obligations, and the ineffectiveness of forceful suppression forced OMON to reduce aggression.

Lukashenko changed tactics: instead of intimidation through force, weapons and detentions (people often leave pretrial detention centers with injuries), the Belarusian president has so far openly hinted at possible help for his regime directly from the Kremlin.

During the day in Minsk, at the site of the killing near the Pushkinskaya metro station, people paid tribute to Alexander Taraykovsky, who was shot by security forces. The Belarusian Interior Ministry tried to justify the shooting by claiming Taraykovsky had an explosive device, but videos make clear that he posed no threat whatsoever.

The coffin of the deceased was carried out to the chants of "Glory!" and "Zhyve Belarus!"

In Vitebsk, residents formed a chain near the City Hall, holding red-and-white balloons and placards calling for an end to violence. They chanted "Zhyve Belarus."

Later, a march against the brutality of security forces took place.

In Gomel, hundreds of people gathered near the circus. Children from one of the gymnasiums returned diplomas and certificates they had earned at school olympiads.

In Grodno, 7,000–10,000 people came out to the central square demanding Lukashenko's resignation. They brought sound equipment, set up an improvised stage, and those who wished spoke from it.

In Bobruisk, several thousand people demanded the revocation of the honorary citizenship of Lidia Yermoshina, head of the Central Election Commission, and chanted "Freedom to political prisoners."

In Brest, protesters blocked Masherov Avenue.

In the capital, it was crowded and noisy not only near Pushkinskaya. Many drivers honked in solidarity with the protest.

The Minsk Innovation University hung red-and-white flags. If a revolution in Belarus takes place, it is already clear that the colors of the former flag will become its symbols.

Under the Palace of Arts, artists launched the flash mob "Art of the Regime," displaying photographs of people injured by security forces. One of the victims displayed his injuries directly on his body.

In the evening, Belarusians began to gather outside the building of Belteleradiocompany, which is not without reason accused of delivering information under strict censorship.

The number of people grew with every hour.

When it got dark, people near the TV company lit flashlights on their mobile phones.

The building was guarded by security forces at that time.

Many people had already left Pushkinskaya, but far from everyone.

It is not clear what could stop people from gathering on Sunday.

TK Media, based on materials from TUT.by