Lukashenko challenger Tikhanouskaya calls for new vote, says ready to lead Belarus

Issued on: 17/08/2020 - 11:41

Speaking in a video address from Lithuania, she also urged security and law enforcement officers to switch sides from President Alexander Lukashenko's government, saying their past behaviour would be forgiven if they did so now.

Her video was released a day after Belarusians chanting "Step down!" filled the centre of the capital Minsk in the biggest protest so far against what they said was the fraudulent re-election a week ago of longtime president Lukashenko.

"I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period," Tikhanouskaya stated in her address, saying it was essential to make the most of the momentum generated by a week of protests.

Strikes expected in Belarus after mass anti-government protests

The former English teacher has become one of the leading opposition figures against Lukashenko, who is struggling to contain a wave of mass protests and strikes that pose the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule of the country.

She fled abroad last week, saying she had done so for the safety of her children, but quickly began releasing new videos calling for anti-government protests to continue.

Lukashenko rules out new vote

The unrest has spread to sections of society normally seen as loyal to the president, as workers from large state factories staged walkouts and some police, journalists from state media, and a sitting ambassador came out in support of the protesters.

Opponents of Lukashenko say he rigged the Aug. 9 presidential election to secure a sixth term in power. He denies losing, citing official results that gave him just over 80 percent of the vote.

On Monday, the veteran leader ruled out holding another election in remarks carried by Belarusian media.

"We held elections already. Until you kill me, there will be no other elections," he was quoted as saying by the Tut.by media outlet. 

Lukashenko said he would be willing to share power and to change the constitution, but that he was not prepared to do so under pressure from protesters, the Belta news agency reported.

His remarks come a day after Russia's Vladimir Putin told Lukashenko that Moscow was ready to assist Belarus in accordance with a collective military pact if necessary.

The Kremlin said that external pressure was being applied to the country, without saying where from.

Russia is watching closely as Belarus hosts pipelines that carry Russian energy exports to the West and is viewed by Moscow as a buffer zone against NATO.

(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)