Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich denounces Belarus 'terror', urges people to unite

bel laureate Svetlana Alexievich accused Belarusian authorities of terrorising ir own people as she urged protesters to remain united in face of versity. Alexievich reportedly summoned her supporters to her home after ar opposition figure, Maxim Znak, was detained by masked men in plain clos in latest round-up ordered by President Alexander Lukashenko.

Diplomats from at least seven countries joined Alexievich, winner of 2015 bel Prize for Literature, at her home to show solidarity against crackdown on protesters and opposition leers. Speaking to reporters from her apartment, Alexievich said that supporters need to unite and t give up on ir intentions as re is a looming threat of losing country.

“This is terror against our own people,” she said.

Znak, who has been demanding resignation of Lukashenko and transfer power to opposition, was detained by masked men after ar opposition leer, Maria Kolesnikova, was snatched in a similar manner. Citing witnesses, Kolesnikova’s campaign team h said that political activist was pushed into a minibus by unidentified men in black.

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Threat to opposition leers

Kolesnikova, 38, is one of a famous trio of women who challenged election results last month but only one who remained in country even after growing security threat.  She sits on Coordination Council which was set up to oversee peaceful transfer of power to Tikhavskaya but continued detention has caused major concern regarding Belarus political crisis.

Kolesnikova’s lawyer reportedly said that singer-activist was being detained over accusations of an illegal attempt to seize power. main opposition leer Svetlana Tikhavskaya has fled to neighbouring Lithuania and Veronika Tsepkalo to Poland amid bloody street protests over contentious election results.

Tsikhauskaya h contested election results and demanded Lukashenko hand over power, accusing leer of poll rigging triggered. Last week, she urged United Nations to intervene in ongoing crackdown on protesters using all mechanisms possible, saying a "nation cant be host to one man's thirst of power." 

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(With AP inputs)