MINSK: Belarusian security forces detained dozens of protesters on Saturday as crowds rallied in central Minsk accusing President Alexander Lukashenko of rigging last month’s election.
One group of women chanted “Our president is Sveta!” – referring to opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who they say won the vote – before riot police dragged many of them into vans. Other protesters were arrested nearby.
Belarus, a former Soviet republic closely allied with Russia, has been rocked by mass street protests since Lukashenko’s claim of a landslide victory in an Aug. 9 vote.
He has denied rigging the election and dismissed opposition accusations of mass arrests and abuses as a Western smear campaign.
On Saturday, video on social media showed police detaining Nina Baginskaya, a 73-year-old who has become…