Belarusian Leader Orders Police to Quash Protests, EU Announces Sanctions

Belarusian women, one of them carrying a poster that reads "My brother is not a criminal," rally in solidarity with protesters injured in the latest rallies against the results of the country's presidential election in Minsk on Aug. 13, 2020. AP Photo

MINSK/BRUSSELS—Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered his police on Aug. 19 to put down protests in the capital Minsk, signaling an escalation after a week and a half of mass demonstrations against his rule.

The European Union held an emergency summit on the crisis, rejecting Lukashenko’s reelection in a disputed vote on Aug. 9 and announcing financial sanctions against officials the bloc blames for election fraud and a cracking down on protests.