Belarusian police have been accused of using violence against protesters
MINKS, Aug 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) —A protester has died in Belarus in police custody, the second death since clashes with police erupted on Sunday over a disputed presidential election.
Officials say the cause of death of the 25-year-old man in Gomel is unclear. His mother says he had heart problems and was kept for hours in a police van.
The man died on Wednesday in the south-eastern city, the Belarusian Investigative Committee was quoted as saying by Belta’s news agency.
The committee said the man had been arrested on Sunday and later sentenced to 10 days in prison for taking part in an illegal protest.
He was taken to hospital when he started feeling unwell – but later died, the committee said. The incident is being investigated.
The protester’s mother told by Radio Free Europe that her son had not taken part in any protests and was arrested as he was going to see his girlfriend.
The Belarusian interior ministry had previously said one demonstrator died when an explosive device went off in his hand in the capital Minsk on Monday.
The UN has condemned the use of violence by authorities, as protests continued for a fourth night.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said police officers were reported to have used excessive force, firing rubber bullets and water cannons, and also throwing stun grenades.
“Reports suggest that more [than] approximately 6,000 people have been detained in the last three days, including bystanders, as well as minors, suggesting a trend of massive arrests in clear violation of international human rights standards,” Bachelet said in a statement.
“Even more disturbing are the reports of ill-treatment during and after detention”, she added, calling for the release of all those unlawfully detained.
At least 200 protesters have been wounded, some seriously. A BBC crew was also attacked by police on Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday evening, more clashes were reported as protesters were again rallying in Minsk and other Belarusian cities. The numbers on the streets appear to be smaller that during previous nights.
In Brest, police said they used live bullets when they came under attack.
The protests erupted hours after Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, was declared the winner of Sunday’s vote, which has been condemned by the EU as “neither free nor fair”.
The main opposition contender, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was then briefly held before fleeing to neighbouring Lithuania.
Lukashenko won 80% of Sunday’s vote, according to election officials, but there were widespread allegations of vote rigging.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Belarusians had shown “the desire for democratic change” in the election campaign.
Sweden’s foreign minister said EU foreign ministers would meet on Friday to discuss imposing sanctions on Belarus.
Lithuania, Poland and Latvia said they were prepared to mediate, provided Belarusian authorities stopped violence against protesters, release detained demonstrators and form a national council with members of civil society. They warned that the alternative was sanctions.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo agreed the vote “was not free and fair”, adding that the people “should be given the freedoms that they are demanding”.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier congratulated Mr Lukashenko on his victory, despite friction over accusations of a Russian plot which Lukashenko has tried to link to the opposition.
The leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova and Azerbaijan have sent messages of support.
Ahead of Sunday’s election, crowds flocked to opposition rallies, with Belarusians angered in part by the Lukashenko government’s response to coronavirus.
The president has downplayed the outbreak, advising citizens to drink vodka and use saunas to fight the disease. — NNN-AGENCIES
