٠٠:٠٣:٥٩Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko commented on opposition rallies taking place in Minsk, as he was addressing reporters after casting his vote in the presidential election, on Sunday.
“Go and demonstrate. There are six venues, six. But the demonstrations have been staged on only two of them, the other four were to spare. But if you demonstrate at any random place and show violation of law or interfere with other people, we will call you to account," he warned.
When asked about possible sanctions, the Belarusian leader said “you can’t underestimate the situation.”
“But there is absolutely no reason to think that tomorrow the country will be plunged into chaos or confrontation, struggle or any civil war. I sincerely declare it and guarantee this," he added.
Lukashenko also called presidential runner Svetlana Tikhanovskaya a “poor thing” and said he does not consider her to be his “major rival.”
“She sincerely says that she doesn’t understand where she got to, why she got there and what she should do. So, please, don’t escalate the situation,” he said.
The president also added that presidential candidates "are worth nothing in terms of policy" and stressed that he disagrees with their program. "God forbid that I always have such opponents," said Lukashenko.
Polling stations opened their doors in Belarus on Sunday at 8 a.m. local time (5 a.m. GMT). Voting will end at 8 p.m. local time (5 p.m. GMT), after which the counting of votes will begin.
Belarus: ‘Go and demonstrate’ says Lukashenko about opposition rallies in Minsk
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko commented on opposition rallies taking place in Minsk, as he was addressing reporters after casting his vote in the presidential election, on Sunday.
“Go and demonstrate. There are six venues, six. But the demonstrations have been staged on only two of them, the other four were to spare. But if you demonstrate at any random place and show violation of law or interfere with other people, we will call you to account," he warned.
When asked about possible sanctions, the Belarusian leader said “you can’t underestimate the situation.”
“But there is absolutely no reason to think that tomorrow the country will be plunged into chaos or confrontation, struggle or any civil war. I sincerely declare it and guarantee this," he added.
Lukashenko also called presidential runner Svetlana Tikhanovskaya a “poor thing” and said he does not consider her to be his “major rival.”
“She sincerely says that she doesn’t understand where she got to, why she got there and what she should do. So, please, don’t escalate the situation,” he said.
The president also added that presidential candidates "are worth nothing in terms of policy" and stressed that he disagrees with their program. "God forbid that I always have such opponents," said Lukashenko.
Polling stations opened their doors in Belarus on Sunday at 8 a.m. local time (5 a.m. GMT). Voting will end at 8 p.m. local time (5 p.m. GMT), after which the counting of votes will begin.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko commented on opposition rallies taking place in Minsk, as he was addressing reporters after casting his vote in the presidential election, on Sunday.
“Go and demonstrate. There are six venues, six. But the demonstrations have been staged on only two of them, the other four were to spare. But if you demonstrate at any random place and show violation of law or interfere with other people, we will call you to account," he warned.
When asked about possible sanctions, the Belarusian leader said “you can’t underestimate the situation.”
“But there is absolutely no reason to think that tomorrow the country will be plunged into chaos or confrontation, struggle or any civil war. I sincerely declare it and guarantee this," he added.
Lukashenko also called presidential runner Svetlana Tikhanovskaya a “poor thing” and said he does not consider her to be his “major rival.”
“She sincerely says that she doesn’t understand where she got to, why she got there and what she should do. So, please, don’t escalate the situation,” he said.
The president also added that presidential candidates "are worth nothing in terms of policy" and stressed that he disagrees with their program. "God forbid that I always have such opponents," said Lukashenko.
Polling stations opened their doors in Belarus on Sunday at 8 a.m. local time (5 a.m. GMT). Voting will end at 8 p.m. local time (5 p.m. GMT), after which the counting of votes will begin.