Vast crowds of protesters flooded Belarus' capital of Minsk in the largest political demonstration in the country's history, demanding that its authoritarian leader step down. Demonstrators in the capital were estimated to number well over 100,000.
Catch up on the developing stories making headlines.MINSK -- Vast crowds of protesters flooded Belarus' capital of Minsk on Sunday in the largest political demonstration in the country's history, demanding that its authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, step down.
An aerial view of protesters during a demonstration on August 16, 2020 in Minsk, Belarus. There have been daily demonstrations in the Belarusian capital and elsewhere in the country after President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in the August 9th election that critics allege was fraudulent.Demonstrators chanted,"Leave, leave," demanding that Lukashenko resign and that new elections be held.
Lukashenko himself appeared at the government rally, telling the crowd that"we will not give the country up." He dismissed the idea of new elections, saying,"If we go into that swamp, we will never get out." Many demonstrators said they thought the protests had surged because of anger provoked by that crackdown, particularly the accounts that have emerged of brutal treatment and torture of people detained during the protests over the past week.
Maria Kolesnikova, who has become one of the three female leaders at the head of the opposition, appeared at the protest and called on the security services and government workers to come over to the side of the demonstrators.
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