Protesters Crowd Minsk as Belarus Leader Gets Birthday Call From Putin

Protesters Crowd Minsk as Belarus Leader Gets Birthday Call From Putin
Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk on Aug. 30, 2020. Tut.By via Reuters
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Belarusians chanting “Happy Birthday, you rat” and flying red-and-white opposition flags gathered near President Alexander Lukashenko’s residence on Sunday as protesters kept up pressure on the veteran leader to resign, before dispersing peacefully.

The president, in office for 26 years, has shown no inclination to step down. For the second weekend in a row he appeared in a black cap and carrying an automatic rifle while walking around his residence, according to a photo published by Russia’s RIA news agency.