Following the imprisonment and expulsion of the leaders of Belarus’ opposition movement, self-proclaimed president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Sept. 14, reportedly securing an emergency Russian loan of $1.5 billion. It is expected that this loan will go towards propping up the power vertical of Lukashenka’s regime, the siloviki, who for nearly 40 days in a row have been ceaselessly, and often brutally, suppressing unprecedented protests against rigged elections. Expect further confrontation, as the protests have no sign of stopping: the numbers of Belarusians ready to risk their health and freedom are still extraordinarily high for the sixth weekend in a row.
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Alya Shandra: Belarus protests show no sign of decline
Opposition supporters parade through the streets during a rally to protest against the presidential election results in Minsk on Sept. 13, 2020.
