Pros and cons: first rally for Lukashenko in Belarus this campaign, and the largest one against him

No provocations or confrontations have taken place so far.

On August 16, two large rallies took place in the capital of Belarus: the first demonstration since the August 9 election in support of the still-serving president Alexander Lukashenko, and an opposition rally for fair elections and against violence. The broadcast was run by the Belarusian bureau of Radio Liberty, as well as the opposition Telegram channel Nexta Live.

The rally in support of Lukashenko took place on Independence Square in Minsk during the day on August 16. Very different activists spoke at the open microphone: some asked people to chip in for a seaside holiday voucher, some claimed that protesters against Lukashenko were all aggressively inclined and the militia responded only with force against force, and someone even defended the opposition (he was booed). Of the participants interviewed by a Radio Liberty journalist, not all had any idea about the use of force against peaceful residents who were not involved in the protests.

Later, Alexander Lukashenko himself arrived at the rally. He gave an emotional speech in which he called the protesters against the falsified elections “a bunch of teenagers,” warned those present about NATO forces at the western border, “the fate of Ukraine on its knees,” and the rule of criminals, and accused opposition demonstrators of not wearing masks and not keeping social distance (all of his supporters were also without protective equipment and did not keep their distance). To the president’s questions “Do you want freedom? Do you want change?” — the crowd answered “No.”

He also threatened workers who go on strike and walk out that they would have nowhere to return, that there would supposedly be no jobs, and that they would not be able to rebuild the country afterward.

Media reported that about 10,000–30,000 citizens (by the highest media estimates) came to the rally for Lukashenko, while the politician himself said in his speech that there were 50,000. Many were organizedly bused to Minsk, while some individuals told journalists that they had come on their own.

At the opposition rally near the “Minsk Hero City” monument, which began after the pro-presidential event, media counted about 100,000–200,000 participants. It is considered the largest protest of all the post-election demonstrations in the country.

Maria Kolesnikova, a representative of the united opposition headquarters of Belarus, also came to the monument (the other main members of the headquarters, presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and her associate Veronika Tsepkalo, left the country for security reasons).

In her speech, Kolesnikova thanked everyone gathered and called on them to keep defending their point of view: “Officials, representatives of the security forces and the media, fight your fear.”

The opposition intends to file complaints on August 17 against everyone who used violence against protesters, whose actions led to the deaths of activists. The crowd greeted this announcement with chants of “Tribunal!”.

Kolesnikova also called for the release of the failed opposition candidates Viktor Babariko, Sergei Tikhanovsky and 4,000 political prisoners. In addition, she demands monetary compensation for the victims and the resignation of Lukashenko. The activists greeted this last demand with shouts of “Go away!” and “Murderer!” directed at the president.

After her speech, some people dispersed to various locations in Minsk, including Independence Square in the city center, where thousands gathered near the Government House. The Nasha Niva publication reported that no fewer than 400,000 demonstrators had gathered in the capital alone, and that rallies are also taking place in other cities.

For example, in Brest, the mayor, the head of the Interior Ministry department, the city prosecutor and the head of the investigative department came out to meet the protesters. They were met with angry murmurs and shouts of “Murderers!” and “We won’t forgive!”, and no real dialogue took place.

In Minsk, by 7 p.m., participants of the solidarity action had occupied almost all of Independence Square and the adjoining avenue. Activists stood on the steps of the KGB building and held placards demanding the release of political prisoners. People passing the KGB shouted: “Let go!”. On the first day of protests, August 9, Independence Square and government buildings were carefully guarded from activists by military and militia forces.

On Independence Square, opposition representative Maria Kolesnikova again addressed those gathered. 

Kolesnikova also addressed factory and plant workers, all officials and diplomats, security forces, and television workers: