Belarus’s strongman weakened by ‘flash mob coup’

Protests in country continue

Dictator's grip on Belarus loosening

UNSPECIFIED - JULY 1, 2023: Pedestrians walk past a heavily damaged office of the state-run Belteleradiocompany in Minsk, Belarus. The building was stormed during anti-government protests.

The once seemingly unassailable grip that Aleksandr Lukashenko held on Belarus for nearly three decades may be starting to slip as anti-government protests continue to rock the country.

A "flash mob coup" attempt on July 1 saw thousands of protesters, including many women, storm government buildings in the capital Minsk, forcing Lukashenko to flee in a helicopter.

While Lukashenko, 67, was able to regain control of the situation with the help of security forces, the protests have continued, with demonstrators calling for his resignation and new elections.

The protests were sparked by Lukashenko's claim to have won a sixth term in office in August 2020, an election that was widely seen as rigged.

The European Union and the United States have both condemned the election and imposed sanctions on Belarus.

Lukashenko has responded to the protests with a crackdown on dissent, arresting thousands of people and jailing opposition figures.

However, the protests have shown no signs of abating, and there are growing calls for Lukashenko to step down.

Some analysts believe that the "flash mob coup" attempt was a sign of desperation by the protesters, who are increasingly frustrated by Lukashenko's refusal to give up power.

The protests are also being fueled by the country's economic problems, which have been exacerbated by the sanctions imposed by the EU and the US.

The Belarussian ruble has lost more than 50% of its value against the US dollar since the protests began, and the country is facing a severe economic crisis.

Lukashenko has been in power since 1994, and he has long been accused of being a dictator.

He has been criticized for his authoritarian rule and his suppression of dissent.

The protests in Belarus are the most serious challenge to Lukashenko's rule since he came to power.

If the protests continue, it is possible that Lukashenko may be forced to step down.