The main challenger to Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko has refused to accept the autocratic president won 80% of the vote in Sunday’s election. “I consider myself the winner of this election,” Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said. A lack of scrutiny, with no observers present, has led to allegations of widespread vote-rigging in the poll. For a second night, police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters in the capital Minsk, eyewitnesses say. One journalist was reportedly injured. About 30 people were arrested in the capital. One witness said they saw police officers with truncheons beat protesters. Polish-based broadcaster Belsat TV said several metro stations in the capital had been closed and the internet was still mostly unavailable. Protests were also being held in other Belarusian cities. It comes after the state security agency said it had thwarted an attempt on Ms Tikhanovskaya’s life. It gave no further details. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said he “tried to reach Svetlana Tikhanovskaya for several hours”. “Her whereabouts not known even to her staff. Concerned about her safety,” Mr Linkevicius tweeted.
Belarus opposition disputes leader’s landslide win – BBC News
