Minsk: Authorities have blocked several new media websites in Belarus for writing news on the two-week-long protests against dictator President Alexander Lukashenko. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said on Saturday that more than 20 media websites have been blocked, including ‘Radio Liberty’ funded by the US and TV channel ‘Belsat’ funded by Poland.
The Government Publications Department on Friday stopped publication of the top independent newspapers – ‘Narodnaya Volya’ and ‘Komosomolskaya’ – by pointing out the equipment malfunction. The demonstrations in Belarus are unprecedented in their duration and size, which erupted on August 9 when Lukashenko was declared victorious for a sixth term in the presidential election results.
The protesters allege that the election result was manipulated. The protesters are now demanding resignation from the president. In the early days of the demonstrations, the police took stern action and arrested about seven thousand people and many of them were beaten up. But now the scope of demonstrations has increased considerably and some main factories of the country have gone on strike.
Last Sunday, around two lakh protesters took out a rally in the capital Minsk. Switlana Sikhanoskaya, who was Lukashenko’s main rival in the election, has called for another march this Sunday.
Minsk: Authorities have blocked several new media websites in Belarus for writing news on the two-week-long protests against dictator President Alexander Lukashenko. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said on Saturday that more than 20 media websites have been blocked, including ‘Radio Liberty’ funded by the US and TV channel ‘Belsat’ funded by Poland.
The Government Publications Department on Friday stopped publication of the top independent newspapers – ‘Narodnaya Volya’ and ‘Komosomolskaya’ – by pointing out the equipment malfunction. The demonstrations in Belarus are unprecedented in their duration and size, which erupted on August 9 when Lukashenko was declared victorious for a sixth term in the presidential election results.
The protesters allege that the election result was manipulated. The protesters are now demanding resignation from the president. In the early days of the demonstrations, the police took stern action and arrested about seven thousand people and many of them were beaten up. But now the scope of demonstrations has increased considerably and some main factories of the country have gone on strike.
Last Sunday, around two lakh protesters took out a rally in the capital Minsk. Switlana Sikhanoskaya, who was Lukashenko’s main rival in the election, has called for another march this Sunday.
