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Belarus unrest: Protesters mark jailed activist Sergei Tikhanovsky's birthday

Protesters in Belarus have gathered outside a prison to mark the birthday of the jailed husband of the country's main opposition figure as anger mounts over a disputed election.
EPA / Protesters held red-and-white flags - the colours of the opposition - and sang "happy birthday"

EPA / Protesters held red-and-white flags - the colours of the opposition - and sang "happy birthday"

Sergei Tikhanovsky, who has just turned 42, was imprisoned alongside other rivals of President Alexander Lukashenko ahead of the 9 August poll.

His wife Svetlana Tikhanovskaya ran in his place but later fled to Lithuania.

She reportedly secured about 10% of the vote, and Mr Lukashenko more than 80%.

There were no independent observers. The opposition has held daily since protests over the past 10 days, alleging massive vote-rigging. 

Hundreds of protesters have been wounded and two have died in clashes with police. Thousands have been arrested, and many have spoken of torture at the hands of security forces.

Mr Lukashenko, who has led Belarus since 1994, insists he has won fairly and has ruled out holding another election.

What happened on Tuesday?

Hundreds of opposition supporters gathered outside the jail in the capital, Minsk, where Mr Tikhanovsky is being detained on charges of inciting violence.

Many held red-and-white balloons - the colours of the opposition - and sang "happy birthday".

Ms Tikhanovskaya, 37, said her husband was spending his birthday in prison because of "a crime he did not commit".

"All of this blatant lawlessness and injustice shows how this rotting system works, in which one person controls everything, one person who has kept the country in fear for 26 years, one person who robbed Belarusians of their choice," she said in a video message.
 

Belarus opposition activists hold a portrait of opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya during a rally in Minsk, Belarus, 17 August 2020
EPA
Many protesters regard Svetlana Tikhanovskaya as the legitimately elected president
 


Ms Tikhanovskaya says that where ballots were properly counted, her share of the vote ranged from 60% to 70%.

In another video message released on Monday, she said she was ready to become a "national leader" to restore peace and prepare for new elections. 

How strong is the pressure on Lukashenko?

On Sunday, more than 100,000 people gathered in Minsk for the largest protest held in Belarus since it declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. 

Strike action is also keeping up the pressure on the president. State TV and key factories have been affected and on Tuesday postal workers reportedly joined the strikes.

A number of officials, as well as current and former police officers, have resigned.

On a visit to a tractor plant on Monday, Mr Lukashenko defended the official election tally, telling workers: "We held the election. Until you kill me, there will be no other election."

But as he spoke, many in the audience booed him and chanted "leave".

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Source: News Corp Australia Network:

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