Police Use Smoke Bombs, Tear Gas, Water Cannons to Disperse Protesters in Minsk

[Manny]

A large crowd of citizens, dissatisfied with the exit poll on Sunday, have been gathering for an unauthorised rally at Victory Square in Minsk.

Police have used smoke grenades and tear gas to clear protesters in Minsk following Sunday's presidential election, a Sputnik correspondent on the ground reported.

Officers carrying shields and batons then lined up to push the protesters back. Two water cannon vehicles moving ahead of the police column also periodically doused the protesters with water.

According to the correspondent, there have also been clashes between protesters and riot police.

Witnesses on the scene said dozens of protesters have reportedly been arrested. Several ambulances were earlier sent to the site of the protests.

Meanwhile, demonstrators have started to erect barricades of dumpsters in the centre of Minsk, after police pushed them back from the stela Minsk Hero City.

The exit polls and first data from polling sites showed that Lukashenko is set for a landslide victory with about 80 percent of votes. The opposition claims that falsifications took place during the vote.

Source with video

[rosco]

Mrs Rosco wasn't happy about the situation over the last month or so and had been contacting UK media to cover the election. Lukashenko managed to manipulate his majority as expected but this time it appears as though the people have had enough. Wifey's friends have been joining protests and things are getting a bit heavy handed.

Today, the internet was cut off and she cant even contact her friends or family.

Just what happens next, remains to be seen. Over the last few months, Mrs Rosco was telling me that Putin had snubbed Lukashenko on a couple of occasions and Russian support was wavering. Today she read something in the Russian press that Putin would potentially support Lukashenko with Russian troops if things kicked off. She's now really worried about a potential civil war with spilled blood and a Ukraine mark II situation happening.

Other than todays press reports, it seems like the UN/EU/Western alliances don't really care all that much about Belarus and have turned a blind eye up until now. Mrs Rosco feels that the people have now had enough and the alleged death, beatings, aggressive police control, Internet blackout and arrests may start an uprising. If they do, I hope that the poor people get the support from those who claim to stand for democracy and justice.

If Belarus had gold or oil, I'm sure this would be getting played out on the news big time and the US would be sending carriers to the Med as we speak.

[BillyB]

Some Presidential candidates were jailed. Others fled to country so they won't be jailed. If Trump jailed Biden, there would be heavy protesting and riots in American streets.

If Belarus had gold or oil, I'm sure this would be getting played out on the news big time and the US would be sending carriers to the Med as we speak.

Crimea has trillions of dollars of fossil fuel off its waters. USA did not send the military to go get Crimea back for Ukraine so we can be rewarded with cheap energy.

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/world/europe/in-taking-crimea-putin-gains-a-sea-of-fuel-reserves.html

[Manny]

USA did not send the military to go get Crimea back for Ukraine

Because they couldn't have done so if they tried.

The US only fights those it thinks cant fight back. And in places it can loot stuff or acquire long term interests after the place has been destroyed. They won't do anything in Russia's back yard.

I agree with Rosco we hear almost nothing about Belarus on UK news. I bet most people couldn't find it on a map.

[rosco]

USA did not send the military to go get Crimea back for Ukraine

Because they couldn't have done so if they tried.

The US only fights those it thinks cant fight back. And in places it can loot stuff or acquire long term interests after the place has been destroyed. They won't do anything in Russia's back yard.

I agree with Rosco we hear almost nothing about Belarus on UK news. I bet most people couldn't find it on a map.

I'll not repeat what Manny posted above but that's pretty spot on.

Billy, don't try and suggest that the US never invades other countries for their own benefit. If you're struggling with google I'll happily give you a couple for starters?

The US is too scared/nervous/not stupid enough to do anything bold in Russia's back yard. What they did in Ukraine has given them a taster for what might happen again. It's a conflict the US cant win. Had the US attempted to take Crimea even the most stupid yank would have expected the worst. Could you imagine Russia occupying Hawaii?

My point about the carrier in the Med was tongue in cheek. The US knows better than to do that.

Belarus still needs some kind of support though because if things go wrong and innocent people die, Russia might watch whilst the rest of the world are too scared to join in. Lukashenko needs the boot but it cant come from the US.

[BillyB]

The US only fights those it thinks cant fight back.

Rosco thinks America will fight every time oil is involved regardless who is involved and you think America won't fight anything that fights back when everybody we ever fought fought back. It would be hard to get into a debate with you two on this issue if you embrace false beliefs.

[cufflinks]

USA did not send the military to go get Crimea back for Ukraine

Because they couldn't have done so if they tried.

The US only fights those it thinks cant fight back. And in places it can loot stuff or acquire long term interests after the place has been destroyed. They won't do anything in Russia's back yard.

I agree with Rosco we hear almost nothing about Belarus on UK news. I bet most people couldn't find it on a map.

It amazes one how the heirs to the British Empire that invaded and colonized dozens of countries for economic exploitation now sound like the official CCP ministry of propaganda.

[Manny]

Over the last few months, Mrs Rosco was telling me that Putin had snubbed Lukashenko on a couple of occasions and Russian support was wavering. Today she read something in the Russian press that Putin would potentially support Lukashenko with Russian troops if things kicked off. She's now really worried about a potential civil war with spilled blood and a Ukraine mark II situation happening.

It’s quite an awkward situation for Russia in many respects that they likely don’t want. If it’s time for Lukashenko to go in that the people genuinely want him out, and he won’t, outside intervention would be messy. Russia would have to either support him or oust him. If the latter what then? Absorb it into the RF? They probably don’t want that. But having the Yanks in there would not be on the table. So supporting the status quo seems to be the obvious choice.

Another question is are the protests genuine? Do the people want him out? Or is this another foreign backed stealth coup attempt like Ukraine? I haven’t read anything about foreign intervention, but when I read of protests now, I kinda expect Hilary to be on the next plane out doling out cookies and EU flags.

Before you know it Hunter Biden would be running a utility company, Trump would open a casino and Saakashvili would pop up like a bad smell.

[rosco]

It’s quite an awkward situation for Russia in many respects that they likely don’t want. If it’s time for Lukashenko to go in that the people genuinely want him out, and he won’t, outside intervention would be messy. Russia would have to either support him or oust him. If the latter what then? Absorb it into the RF? They probably don’t want that. But having the Yanks in there would not be on the table. So supporting the status quo seems to be the obvious choice.

Unfortunately for the Belarusian people, they're stuck in the middle. I'd like to see them get the support they need otherwise there will be bloodshed. I also see why Russia would prefer to sort out the problem on their doorstep, rather than leaving it to the west. If they intervene the west will pile all the blame on Putin and use it as an excuse to push the Russia bad narrative. If they do nothing then the west might get involved and it could back fire spectacularly.

Billy plays it all down but as you noted, Killary/Cookies/EU flags and Hunter Biden says it all.

Another question is are the protests genuine? Do the people want him out? Or is this another foreign backed stealth coup attempt like Ukraine? I haven’t read anything about foreign intervention, but when I read of protests now, I kinda expect Hilary to be on the next plane out doling out cookies and EU flags.

I spoke to the wife this morning and she finally got a message from her dad. They are ok but the connections are unstable and the internet has been cut. The only news source available in Belarus is a pro government channel where Lukashenko is saying all the protesters were stoned and drunk trouble makers.

Last night she was very upset. All her friends and family were attending the various protests around the country and she was getting snippets of the violence and unrest. Her dad was going to the local one in his fairly rural home town and she couldn't contact him to find out if he was safe.

For the first time in the 9 years I've been with Mrs Rosco, she's extremely vocal about her country and the resentment towards Lukashenko is obvious. He's played USSR style games for decades but recently things have got a lot worse on a number of fronts. I'd guess that the protests are 100% genuine and with a majority support.

[BillyB]

I also see why Russia would prefer to sort out the problem on their doorstep, rather than leaving it to the west. If they intervene the west will pile all the blame on Putin and use it as an excuse to push the Russia bad narrative. If they do nothing then the west might get involved and it could back fire spectacularly.

Lukashenko already said Russia tried to intervene when dozens of Wagner mercenaries were arrested. It was pretty bold of Russia to send in mercenaries right before an election. They must really wanted to sort something out.

[Contrarian]

Mrs Rosco wasn't happy about the situation over the last month or so and had been contacting UK media to cover the election. Lukashenko managed to manipulate his majority as expected but this time it appears as though the people have had enough. Wifey's friends have been joining protests and things are getting a bit heavy handed.

Today, the internet was cut off and she cant even contact her friends or family.

Just what happens next, remains to be seen. Over the last few months, Mrs Rosco was telling me that Putin had snubbed Lukashenko on a couple of occasions and Russian support was wavering. Today she read something in the Russian press that Putin would potentially support Lukashenko with Russian troops if things kicked off. She's now really worried about a potential civil war with spilled blood and a Ukraine mark II situation happening.

Other than todays press reports, it seems like the UN/EU/Western alliances don't really care all that much about Belarus and have turned a blind eye up until now. Mrs Rosco feels that the people have now had enough and the alleged death, beatings, aggressive police control, Internet blackout and arrests may start an uprising. If they do, I hope that the poor people get the support from those who claim to stand for democracy and justice.

If Belarus had gold or oil, I'm sure this would be getting played out on the news big time and the US would be sending carriers to the Med as we speak.

Or lithium mines and other precious metal mines, most likely the real reason for US occupation of Afghanistan.

[cufflinks]

Curious Chairman Xi's CCP Belt and Road plan for colonizing Belarus as part of the CCP Mongol Han hordes East and West pinchers strategy to reconquer Mother Russia as Modern China has need of the former soviet landmass and mineral, forestry and agricultural resources and millions of acres to expand into.

China realizes it's one child policies have led to a demographic crisis and returning to traditional family models China will exceed 3 Billion people over the next 100 years.  With Russian and Belarus women becoming westernized and too posh to push and RU UA BL birthrates collapsing...  The former soviet landmass is a juicy plum for the CCP to pick.

Irony is a western passport may have renewed appeal to former soviet ladies especially countries with decent healthcare as they are not the preferred breeding stock for the Han hordes.

[Contrarian]

The US only fights those it thinks cant fight back.

Rosco thinks America will fight every time oil is involved regardless who is involved and you think America won't fight anything that fights back when everybody we ever fought fought back. It would be hard to get into a debate with you two on this issue if you embrace false beliefs.

     Mirror mirror on the wall...

[rosco]

I also see why Russia would prefer to sort out the problem on their doorstep, rather than leaving it to the west. If they intervene the west will pile all the blame on Putin and use it as an excuse to push the Russia bad narrative. If they do nothing then the west might get involved and it could back fire spectacularly.

Lukashenko already said Russia tried to intervene when dozens of Wagner mercenaries were arrested. It was pretty bold of Russia to send in mercenaries right before an election. They must really wanted to sort something out.

I asked my wife about this the other week but she didn't think it was something that came from the top. If Russia wanted in on the act they'd turn up and tell Lukashenko.

People are continuing to protest today and my wife tells me that her dads factory were telling the workers that the official strikes are on different dates. It seems like lots of misinformation is being spread to disrupt any unity and the locals are in the dark without any news coverage and internet. Pretty rotten stuff.

[andrewfi]

A little bit of reading will dispell the latest fantasies of Billykins.

This was a provocation originating in Kiev. Given that at least one US passport holder has, according to Lukashenko, been arrested in connection with the incident some might surmise that this was not an entirely Kievan project.

It is an interesting story though, but why it would have been set up with fake Ukrainian travel agencies, spoofed phone numbers and fske Ukrainian personnel seems rather careless. As was the way the onward flights from Minsk were cancelled at the last minute.

On the other hand, it seems that Lukashenko's intelligence service nearly fell for it.

[Steveboy]

USA did not send the military to go get Crimea back for Ukraine

Because they couldn't have done so if they tried.

The US only fights those it thinks cant fight back. And in places it can loot stuff or acquire long term interests after the place has been destroyed. They won't do anything in Russia's back yard.

I agree with Rosco we hear almost nothing about Belarus on UK news. I bet most people couldn't find it on a map.

It amazes one how the heirs to the British Empire that invaded and colonized dozens of countries for economic exploitation now sound like the official CCP ministry of propaganda.

Aaaa don't knock it!! If I was in power I would still be out colonizing the planet.. it all went south some time back when people got soft.. Im still up for bringing the Empire back to the UK and crucifying anyone who does not follow orders ..you have to rule with absolute power with an iron rod if you want to stay in power.. Romans did it for 500 years.. bloody good effort if you ask me!!

[Markje]

USA did not send the military to go get Crimea back for Ukraine

Because they couldn't have done so if they tried.

The US only fights those it thinks cant fight back. And in places it can loot stuff or acquire long term interests after the place has been destroyed. They won't do anything in Russia's back yard.

I agree with Rosco we hear almost nothing about Belarus on UK news. I bet most people couldn't find it on a map.

The reason they didnt try in my opinion is something else.

They would also face a significant part of locals that want to stay with russia

[rosco]

USA did not send the military to go get Crimea back for Ukraine

Because they couldn't have done so if they tried.

The US only fights those it thinks cant fight back. And in places it can loot stuff or acquire long term interests after the place has been destroyed. They won't do anything in Russia's back yard.

I agree with Rosco we hear almost nothing about Belarus on UK news. I bet most people couldn't find it on a map.

The reason they didnt try in my opinion is something else.

They would also face a significant part of locals that want to stay with russia

That’s true. My wife’s parents were born in Russia under the USSR and I’m guessing if their options were, become Russian or stay Belarusian under Lukashenko, then they would pick the former.

We’d then have billy & Moby on here telling the world how they were forced at gun point etc.

[cufflinks]

USA did not send the military to go get Crimea back for Ukraine

Because they couldn't have done so if they tried.

The US only fights those it thinks cant fight back. And in places it can loot stuff or acquire long term interests after the place has been destroyed. They won't do anything in Russia's back yard.

I agree with Rosco we hear almost nothing about Belarus on UK news. I bet most people couldn't find it on a map.

It amazes one how the heirs to the British Empire that invaded and colonized dozens of countries for economic exploitation now sound like the official CCP ministry of propaganda.

Aaaa don't knock it!! If I was in power I would still be out colonizing the planet.. it all went south some time back when people got soft.. Im still up for bringing the Empire back to the UK and crucifying anyone who does not follow orders ..you have to rule with absolute power with an iron rod if you want to stay in power.. Romans did it for 500 years.. bloody good effort if you ask me!!

 

Clearly the British Empire was based on what they learned from having been a Roman Colony...