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A30 world news
Diasabra 14 November 2020

Outrage in Belarus, EU after opposition supporter death

(AP) — Thousands of revolutions” that overthrew
people rallied in Belarus leaders in other post-Soviet
on Friday following the countries.
death of a 31-year-old op- “We unequivocally assess the
position supporter who events taking place in the
reportedly was beaten by country after the elections as
security forces, and the an attempt at an unconstitu-
European Union con- tional coup on the patterns
demned the violent crack- of, as they say now, color
down that Belarusian au- revolutions,” he said. "“Any
thorities have continued color revolution makes the
to enforce against peace- state weaker and the people
ful protesters. poorer. A total of four people,
including Bandarenka, are
The man's death on Thurs- reported to have died since
day came after more than the protests began in August
three months of mass anti- as the result of the crack-
government protests that down on demonstrators and
were sparked by official elec- — thousands of them bru- position supporter, Raman lawless, violent acts can take opposition supporters. No
tion results that gave authori- tally beaten — since the Aug. Bandarenka, who died at a place,” Peter Stano, the EU’s criminal probes have been
tarian President Alexander 9 presidential election in Minsk hospital after several spokesman for foreign affairs launched into the deaths.
Lukashenko a sixth term in Belarus, human rights advo- hours of surgery for serious and security policy, said in a
office. Opposition leaders cates have reported. injuries. Some of the banners statement. Stano accused Lu- The Investigative Commit-
and some poll workers say Thousands of people car- the demonstrators held said, kashenko’s government of tee on Friday has halted an
the results were manipulat- rying flowers and candles “Stop killing us.” “ignoring not only the funda- inquiry into the death of Al-
ed, and protesters have been formed human chains of mental rights and freedoms exander Taraikovsky, a pro-
calling for Lukashenko's res- solidarity in several Belarus Bandarenka was detained in a of the Belarusian people, but tester who died on Aug. 10.
ignation. More than 17,000 cities, including the capital, Minsk courtyard on Wednes- also disregarding their lives.” The government maintains
people have been detained Minsk, to honor the late op- day by unidentified men, he was killed by an explosive
“most likely, plainclothes German Foreign Minis- device that blew up in his
policemen,” who went there try spokesman Christofer hands, but his partner be-
Iran passes grim to remove red and white rib- Burger called the incident lieved he was shot by police.
bons — a symbol of the pro-
“dismaying,” and said that Video shot by an Associ-
milestone of 40,000 deaths tests in Belarus, leader of the “the scale of state violence ated Press journalist shows
Viasna human rights center and repression in Belarus is Taraikovsky with a bloodied
from coronavirus Ales Bialiatsky said. They shocking.” Rupert Colville, shirt before collapsing on the
handed him over to police the spokesman for the U.N. ground. Several police are
officers and Bandarenka was High Commissioner for Hu- seen nearby and some walk
(AP) — Iran on Thurs- virus' spread. brutally beaten inside a van, man Rights, also expressed over to where Taraikovsky
day passed the grim Bialiatski said in a statement. concern “as the Belarusian is lying on the street and
milestone of 40,000 But the government has “As a result, Raman sustained government continues to stand around him. The video
coronavirus deaths, resisted shutting down the a severe head injury and in wield the machinery of the doesn't show why he fell to
with the latest 10,000 country, desperate to sal- grave condition was brought state to commit human rights the ground or how his shirt
added in less than a vage an economy cratered to the police (department). violations.” Opposition lead- became bloodied, but it also
month, as the country by unprecedented Ameri- An ambulance wasn't called er Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, doesn't show that he had an
struggles to contain its can sanctions that effec- for two more hours. The who challenged Lukashenko explosive device that blew up
most widespread wave tively bar Iran from selling doctors were unable to save in August's presidential elec- in his hand, as the govern-
of infection yet. its oil internationally. The Raman Bandarenka's life,” tion and received the second- ment has said.
Trump administration re- Bialiatski said, calling for a most votes, called Bandaren-
The Iranian health minis- imposed sanctions in 2018 criminal investigation to hold ka “a hero” and “an innocent The EU already has imposed
try announced 457 new fa- after withdrawing from those responsible for Banda- victim of an inhumane sys- sanctions on Lukashenko
talities on Thursday, along Tehran's nuclear deal with renka's death accountable. tem.” and several dozen officials
with 117,517 new infec- world powers. “The man was killed because over their role in the security
tions, pushing the total Belarusian authorities have he wanted to live in a free crackdown launched after
case count past 726,000, Earlier this week, authori- confirmed that Bandarenka country,” Tsikhnaouskaya, the contested election. Stano
although officials have ties ordered a month-long was brought to the hospital who is currently in exile in said Friday that the 27-nation
warned that's a significant nightly business curfew in from a police department in Lithuania, said in a video bloc “stands ready to impose
undercount. Tehran and 30 other ma- Minsk but denied respon- statement Friday. “But we additional sanctions."
jor cities and towns, asking sibility for his death. Police will never obey those who
The death toll has soared nonessential shops to keep maintained he was injured in are ready to kill us.” In a separate video message,
in recent weeks, shattering their workers home. Still, a street fight. Belarus' Inves- In an interview with state European Commission Pres-
records in the nation that enforcement in the sprawl- tigative Committee said Ban- media on Friday, Lukashenko ident Ursula von der Leyen
for months has suffered ing metropolis remains a darenka also displayed signs offered condolences to Ban- said that EU member states
the worst outbreak in the challenge. of “alcohol intoxication.” An darenka's parents and said he have asked the bloc's execu-
Middle East. inquiry has been launched. told the head of the Investi- tive to prepare a plan of eco-
As deaths continue to Bandarenka's death elic- gative Committee that the nomic support for Belarus.
Nearly half of Iran's coro- surge with no end in sight, ited outrage both in Belarus death needs to be “fairly and “The European Union
navirus deaths are record- authorities have come un- and abroad. The European objectively” investigated. stands ready to mobilize all
ed in the capital of Tehran, der pressure. The national Union condemned the vio- Belarus' leader said he or- its economic means to sup-
according to health offi- coronavirus task force lence. dered the prosecutor general port and accompany demo-
cials, where medical work- will consider a two-week “This is an outrageous and to take the investigation “un- cratic change," she said. “Eu-
ers have warned that the nationwide lockdown shameful result of the actions der the most serious control,” rope’s economic influence
health system may soon proposal this weekend, by the Belarusian authorities, because “everyone started to is immense. It's up to us to
be overwhelmed and de- Deputy Health Minister who have not only directly blame the police.” make a more strategic use of
manded a strict month- Qassem Janbabaei told the and violently carried out re- Lukashenko also renewed our economic clout. It's up to
long lockdown in all pro- semi-official Tasnim news pression of their own popu- his stance that the ongoing us to take clear our positions
vincial capitals to slow the agency. lation, but also created an unrest is illegitimate. He lik- and to enforce them with
environment whereby such ened it to the so-called “color stronger actions."