Alexander Lukashenko
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko the last dictator in Europe. He stated this on Monday, March 8, during the presentation of the annual awards of the State Department for civic courage to women from different countries of the world, including a member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council of the Belarusian opposition Maria Kolesnikova. His speech is available on the ministry's Twitter account.
He recalled that Kolesnikova mobilized women throughout Belarus to protest against the rule of the “last dictator of Europe” on the eve of the election of the head of state in the country.
Blinken added that the oppositionist is currently in custody in Belarus. The US will continue to call for her immediate release, as well as the release of all political prisoners in the country, the US Secretary of State concluded.
In February, Lukashenko called Belarus an island of security in Europe. Nevertheless, history teaches Minsk to be ready to respond to any provocation. According to the head of state, no country has such border protection as Belarus does.
In Belarus, mass protests began after the presidential elections on August 9, 2020. The protesters demand Lukashenka's resignation and a new vote. The demonstrations of the protesters are harshly suppressed by the police and riot police. Tens of thousands of people were detained, many spoke of torture and beatings in isolation wards. Four people were killed in clashes with security forces. The Belarusian leader himself claimed that the West was behind what was happening.
