"If the inauguration had been announced in advance, 200,000 demonstrators would have gathered outside his palace," said Ales Belyatsky, head of the Viasna rights group, which monitors political prisoners. questioned opposition activist and former minister Pavel Latushko on social media, likening the ceremony to a gangster convention. The United Nations rights chief Michelle Bachelet said Monday that these allegations "should be documented and investigated, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice.". His main challenger in the election, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, dismissed his comments as an attempt to divert public attention from rigging the vote and the violent crackdown on protests. Belarus’ authoritarian leader is seeking to disparage protesters demanding his resignation for a sixth straight week after a disputed election by accusing the United States of fomenting the unrest In a bizarre episode, Lukashenko viewed one protest rally from his helicopter, describing the demonstrators as "rats," and later disembarked in a bullet-proof vest carrying a Kalashnikov. “There is just one reason behind the protests in Belarus and it's known to everyone: Lukashenko has lost the vote, but he doesn’t want to step down,” Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press in a written comment. “It's an internal political crisis, and the protesters' demands contain nothing regarding relations with other countries or a shift in Belarus' foreign policy course,” she said in written remarks to the AP. "But we were one of the very few, maybe even the only one, where the colour revolution didn't work out," he said. Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya speaks via video message to an urgent debate of the UN Human Rights Council Belarus and several allies tried Friday to … Rights lawyer Garri Pogonyailo said Lukashenko behaved like a "coward" and "like any dark deed, tried to do this in secret.". Belarus' authoritarian leader has sought to disparage protesters demanding his resignation for a sixth straight week following a disputed election by accusing the United States of fomenting the unrest. France 24 - International breaking news, top stories and headlines. Lukashenko first raised this several years ago but has made few concrete proposals. Maria Kolesnikova, a leading council member who has been in jail for more than a week after she ripped her passport to avoid the forcible expulsion to Ukraine, was charged Wednesday with making calls for the seizure of power and forcible change of the constitutional order. “She wants to tell people that never regretted acting as she did even for a second,” the lawyer said. The massive demonstrations were driven by frustration with the Belarusian leader's 26-year iron-fist rule, his cavalier response to the coronavirus and the worsening economy. The announcement came after independent media reported that Lukashenko's motorcade had raced through the capital, prompting speculation that the inauguration was due to take place. European Union foreign ministers on Monday failed to agree sanctions over the political crisis, despite a plea for support from Tikhanovskaya. Maria Kolesnikova speaks at a news conference in Minsk, Belarus in August. European Union foreign ministers on Monday failed to agree sanctions over the political crisis, despite a plea for support from Tikhanovskaya. The German foreign minister noted that Russia “carries a very special responsibility” given its close ties with Belarus and warned that "with its unconditional support for Lukashenko so far and hybrid exertion of influence, Moscow will certainly lose the sympathy of people in Belarus.”. 160 shares. “It's time to stop stirring up society.”. Minsk (CNN)Embattled Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has been inaugurated as President, state media reported, as protests continue over his hotly-disputed election win. Kolesnikova was suffering from allergy in prison but remains in good spirits, said her lawyer Lyudmila Kazak. We aren't relaxing and stand ready to respond to any challenge.”.