Self-declared Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko is intensifying efforts to de-escalate protests and degrade protester will in the run-up to Oct. 25. Lukashenko set Oct. 25 as the deadline for submissions “from the people” of Belarusian constitutional amendments on Oct. 3. He likely seeks to use this amendment process to broker a pretend compromise with protesters to end the crisis without actually ceding power.

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