Live Updates: Pro- and Anti-Lukashenko Rallies Held in Minsk

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - French President Emmanuel Macron called on the European Union on Sunday to actively take the side of Belarusians protesting against the re-election of their long-time president.

"The EU must continue to mobilize at the side of hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who have been protesting peacefully so that their rights, freedom and sovereignty are respected," he tweeted.

The EU foreign ministers agreed this week to draft a list of Belarusian officials they hold responsible for suspected vote rigging and police violence against demonstrators. They will be slapped with targeted sanctions.

MINSK (Sputnik) - The Belarusian opposition plans to take court action over the violent crackdown on protesters, Maria Kolesnikova, a senior opposition figure, said Sunday.

Kolesnikova, an ally of self-exiled former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and campaign chief of her rival, opposition politician Viktor Babaryko, made the announcement in a video posted online.

"We now demand an end to violence... None of those responsible for the violence has been punished, no cases have been opened, people have not been freed from custody. That's not how it should be, that's not right," she said.

"Tomorrow, we will file requests that criminal probes be launched into people's deaths, into every single incident of torture and illegal actions of the police," Kolesnikova added.

MINSK (Sputnik) - No detentions were made at Sunday's demonstration in support of the Belarusian opposition in Minsk, an Interior Ministry spokeswoman told Sputnik.

"According to preliminary information, no detentions were made in Minsk. The event went off without any disturbances," Olga Chemodanova said.

Massive crowd in Prague’s Old Town Square in support of a free #Belarus pic.twitter.com/bNyXahpfIy

— Douglas Arellanes (@dougiegyro) August 16, 2020

KIEV (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian president's office criticized the Belarusian leader on Sunday after Alexander Lukashenko said the neighbouring country was forcing Belarus to call another presidential election.

"Today it was practically officially announced in Minsk that the Ukrainian leadership allegedly 'orders' new elections in Belarus. This is not just a patently false claim. This is a deliberate mounting tension, conscious provocative behavior," the Ukrainian president's office said.

The presidency argued that Lukashenko's claims cannot "drown out the voice of thousands of protests of own citizens. If there is no trust – and the world sees that there is no credibility at all – then this gap cannot be filled with unfair accusations."

Earlier in the day, Lukashenko said in an address to the nation at a rally in Minsk that Ukraine, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania were trying to coerce his country into holding a new election, after he was re-elected for a sixth term last week.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday rejected the idea of holding a new presidential election in the country, adding that Belarus will die as a country if it agrees.

"Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and, unfortunately, our native Ukraine and its leadership are calling upon us to hold new elections. If only we follow their lead, we will go into a tailspin and never stabilize our airship. We will die as a state, as a people, as a nation," Lukashenko said at a pro-government rally in central Minsk.

The leader also said that the presidential election took place, and the result of the vote, according to which, he gained over 80 percent, could not be falsified.

Lukashenko went on saying that presidential re-election would weaken the country, as only "hooligans" would take part in it.

In addition, the president advised workers not to quit their jobs, adding that otherwise they would not be able to get their jobs back.

The leader also said that it was not him or the authorities that triggered violence during protests across the country but those opposing them.

"They say [the authorities] exercised ... brutality on the streets. So who did trigger this brutality? Was it you [my supporters]? Did I trigger it, or the authorities? We did not need it. It was necessary to stop them [the protesters], as if they had not been stopped, you would not be here ... as they would have been dividing and tearing apart the country," Lukashenko added.

According to the president, the opposition will not allow the country's population to live in peace, as it is controlled by foreigners. At the same time, Lukashenko called on those opposing the authorities to respect the opinion of majority.

The Belarusian leader also warned the opposition against threatening military and public servants.

"Soldiers, civil servants, workers, peasants, doctors, teachers, our elite, they are able to protect themselves and their families," Lukashenko said, urging to leave teachers and doctors alone, as they need to prepare for a new school year and treat COVID-19 patients.

The president also warned activists against attacking journalists of the state media and their families. If something happens to them, the offenders will "pay the ultimate price," Lukashenko said.

In addition, Lukashenko said that citizens of Belarus are able to protect themselves, urging the opposition not to push people to violent confrontation.

"At the beginning of the event, the number of people stood at 65,000", Belarusian Interior Ministry's spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova said.

The recent statement by the former president of #Belarus about increasing concentration of @NATO military forces at Belarus’ borders is a lie. Looks he desperately tries to prove call for #Russia’s help and completely ruin country’s independence. Lamentable.

— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) August 16, 2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus President Alexandel Lukashenko discussed by the phone the current situation in Belarus taking into account external pressure on Minsk in the light of mass protests, the Kremlin press service said.

"The two leaders continued the discussion of the situation in Belarus after the presidential election, including taking into account the pressure exerted on the republic from abroad", the statement said.

On Saturday, Putin and Lukashenko also discussed the current developments in Belarus.

"Thank you, you have never let me down", Lukashenko said addressing his supporters.

MINSK (Sputnik) - Belarus Interior Minister Yuri Karayev said that the authorities would investigate all cases of police violence and abuse of protesters after the normalisation of the situation in the country.

"This is very bad, I am against it. It should not be that way. We will probe all cases. Not now, but when everything calms down", Karayev said as quoted by Belarus state-run Belta news agency.

According to the minister, people are being inspired to take to the streets and engage in clashes for money coming from abroad. Men receive about $12, while women receive $24 for taking part in the protests.

"My thoughts also go to the dear Republic of Belarus. I am following attentively the post-electoral situation in that country and call for dialogue, the rejection of violence, respect for justice and rights", Pope Francis said addressing believers and pilgrims.