World

Belarus charges 600 for taking part in protests after election

Font Size:

MINSK, Belarus—Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko extended his crackdown on opponents Tuesday, as authorities charged around 600 activists with taking part in an unsanctioned protest and threatened to disband political parties and organizations involved in Sunday’s protest against his landslide re-election.

At least four opposition candidates remained in detention Tuesday as Mr. Lukashenko sought to stamp out any embers of dissent after around 20,000 people hit the streets Sunday to protest a vote Western observers said was deeply flawed.

The activists will be locked up for up to 15 days, and the leaders of the protest face up to 15 years in prison for inciting violence, if convicted. Hundreds of riot police had violently dispersed the crowd and detained hundreds after a small group of protesters attacked the main government building.

Grigory Kostusyev, a rival candidate who was released from detention late Monday without charges, said the security service, still known as the KGB, had tried to pressure him into renouncing his opposition to the government. A KGB spokesman said he had no comment on Mr. Kostusyev’s accusation.

Full story: Belarus Extends Crackdown