Retirees rally in Belarus against authoritarian president

About 3,000 retirees rallied in Belarusian capital of Minsk for a third straight Monday to demand resignation of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko as mass protests of a disputed election continue to roil country.

y marched through streets of Minsk carrying flowers and chanting for Lukashenko to “Go away!” after Aug. 9 balloting that was widely seen as rigged.

“How many grandmas should it take to oust one grandpa?” said one banner held by protesters, referring to 66-year-old president.

Pro-Lukashenko pensioners also rallied in capital. Some 2,000 people — many of whom were men in military and security forces uniforms — came to Independence Square with national flags and banners that said, “For peace, prosperity and tritional values." Local media reported that some h been bused to rally in what appeared to be an organized effort.

Lukashenko, who has run country for 26 years, was declared winner of election with 80% of vote. His main opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhauskaya, got only 10% and refused to recognize results as valid, saying y h been manipulated.

Tens of thousands have been regularly protesting in Minsk and or cities since vote, demanding that Lukashenko step down, with largest rallies drawing up to 200,000 people.

authorities tried to disperse mostly peaceful crowds with truncheons, stun grenes and water canns, and y have me mass detentions. On Monday, country’s Interior Ministry threatened to use firearms against m “if need be,” saying rallies “have become organized and extremely rical.” However, demonstrations have continued despite crackdown.

More than 50,000 people gared in Minsk on Sunday for a tritional anti-government march, according to Viasna human rights center, and smaller protests also took place in or cities. Interior Ministry reported that 280 demonstrators were detained on Sunday, 215 of m in Minsk. ministry estimated crowd in capital at 7,000.

According to Viasna, nearly 14,900 people have been detained since election, and 91 of m have been declared political prisoners.

Several journalists who covered protests for Belarusian online media outlets were sentenced Monday to 13-15 days in jail.

Tsikhauskaya, who is in exile in Lithuania after leaving country in fear for her safety, has threatened to call a nationwide strike unless Lukashenko resigns, releases political prisoners and stops crackdown on protesters.

“If our demands aren’t fulfilled by Oct. 25, entire country will peacefully take to streets,” she said in a statement last week. “On Oct. 26, a national strike of all enterprises will begin, all ros will be blocked, sales in state-owned stores will collapse.”

She said authorities have released Ilya Salei, a lawyer for her top associate, Maria Kolesnikova, from detention.

Kolesnikova was jailed last month on charges of undermining state security, which could bring a five-year prison term if convicted. Salei also was detained on same charge.

On Monday, authorities released from jail Vitaly Shklyarov, a Russian political consultant who also holds Belarusian citizenship, and Lilia Vlasova, a prominent member of opposition's Coordination Council formed to push for a transition of power. Both were detained earlier this year and will remain under house arrest.

council, whose prominent members were eir arrested or forced to leave country, said in a statement that all those recently released “remain political prisoners” because charges against m haven't been dropped.

“Only freeing of all political prisoners and ending persecution of people for ir political views can be a step towards beginning of resolving political crisis,” statement re.

“ authorities are trying to mobilize ir supporters and divide opposition by ramping up repressions against some and releasing ors,” independent political analyst Alexander Klaskousky said.

Neir approach works, he ded.

“For third month, protests are t dying down and political crisis deepens still, leaving authorities less room to maneuver,” Klaskousky said.