Belarus protests: Can Lukashenko survive?

Demonstrations against Belarus’s president show little sign of abating as people across the country dispute a recent election result and urge him to resign. Aleksandr Lukashenko is now facing the most intense popular opposition to his rule since he came to power in 1994. Lukashenko claimed 80 percent of votes cast in the election on August 9, with officials putting his nearest challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on 10 percent. Tikhanovskaya and her supporters say the official results are fraudulent. Security forces responded with a heavy hand against initial protests, arresting 7,000 people in the days following the election. Two protesters were killed and hundreds wounded in the crackdown. Yet pro-opposition rallies have continued, including one attended by thousands of people in Minsk on Sunday. Women have been at the forefront of protests urging Lukashenko to step down. Lukashenko says he is open to exploring constitutional changes but refuses to step down immediately. Meanwhile, Tikhanovskaya is pledging to act as an interim president who will release political prisoners and then organise free and fair elections within six months. As tensions rise in Belarus, regional powers are trying to exert their influence. The EU has dismissed the election result and is preparing sanctions against high-ranking Belarusian individuals, while Lukashenko says Russia stands ready to "ensure security". The Stream will look at what lies ahead for the people of Belarus as its leader faces the sternest test of his 26-year rule. Join the conversation. Join the conversation: TWITTER: https://twitter.com/AJStream FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AJStream Subscribe to our channel http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe #Aljazeeraenglish #News #belarus

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