Alexander Lukashenko

At least 274 journalists have been jailed around the work this year in connection with their work - a new record high - said an annual survey published on Tuesday by the Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ found.

More than 300 protesters were remanded in custody pending trial following this Sunday's mass rallies in Belarus, authorities said today.

Mass protests in Belarus are being held every weekend for nearly five months as the political opposition remains determined in its efforts to remove President Alexander Lukashenko from power.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he had secured a pledge from Russia to provide comprehensive assistance if needed to ensure the security of his country in a phone call with President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15.   

Protesters formed human chains and marched through the streets of Belarus carrying flowers on Aug. 12 in anger at a crackdown by strongman President Alexander Lukashenko that has prompted the European Union to consider new sanctions against Minsk.    

It is the second day in a row that people have demonstrated, angry at the results of Sunday's presidential vote. Security services claim to have foiled an attempt to assassinate the president's main election rival.

"Special police got out of police cars next to the Grusevka metro station. Protesters began to flee. People shouted from the balconies of the surrounding buildings where to hide, and in response, they approached the "coordinators" several times and fired at them", a correspondent said for the Russian agency.

About 500 people, mostly young people, gathered in Minsk, according to a TAS S correspondent, without permission.
Belarus held presidential elections on August 9, and according to preliminary results, President Alexander Lukashenko received 80.08 percent of support.
Following the announcement of the results, protests broke out in Minsk and several other cities.

The use of the death penalty in Belarus does not allow the country to be a member of the European Council. This was stated yesterday by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen after a meeting in Vienna with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, TASS reported.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will pay an official visit to Turkey on April 16 upon the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the presidency said on April 15.

Belarus news agency BelTA said it learned this on Wednesday.