Investigative Committee of Belarus intends to prosecute participants of protests abroad

The Investigative Committee (IC) of Belarus has identified 365 participants of opposition protests abroad, which were held on the day of the presidential election on January 26. As noted by the agency on January 27, all the defendants will be brought to criminal responsibility.

It is noted that despite the measures of conspiracy taken by the opposition, the agency managed to identify 365 people out of 581 participants. The investigation of the criminal case is underway.

"Identified 365 characters who took part in the gatherings in various cities. Among them: Wroclaw - 11, Warsaw - 203, Bialystok - 18, Vilnius - 29, New York - 39, Prague - 11 and others," - stated in the Telegram-channel of the IC of Belarus.

It is noted that on the day when Belarus held elections for the country's leader, street actions were organized abroad "to simulate support for extremist cells on the run." They were accompanied by offensive slogans to incite social hatred, using extremist symbols.

"The main goals of the events are an attempt to demonstrate the "solvency" of the leadership of the groups of "fugitives," discredit the Republic of Belarus in the international arena, interference in the electoral process and disruption of the election campaign," reports the agency.

No doubt without a ballot: Belarusians again cast their votes for Alexander Lukashenko

How the voting took place and who tried to destabilize the situation in the republic

Earlier on January 27, the Russian Foreign Ministry said about the interference of Western countries in the presidential election in Belarus in order to try to sway the situation in the republic with the help of unsubstantiated throw-ins. The Russian side condemns the biased statements and agreed with the Central Election Commission of Belarus that one can't take seriously the comments of persons who were not involved in the observation of the vote, emphasized the Foreign Ministry.

The same day, chairman of the Central Election Commission of Belarus Igor Karpenko reported that the incumbent head of state Alexander Lukashenko had won the presidential election with 86.82% of the vote. At the same time, there were no complaints of any violations from citizens and observers. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Belarusian leader on his re-election.

Polling stations for the main voting in the presidential election in Belarus worked throughout the country on January 26. After the turnout reached 56.64% at 12:00, the election was recognized valid. The voter turnout amounted to 85.7%.

Prior to that, January 21, Lukashenko said during a communication with workers of Minsk Automobile Plant that he was ready to sign a decree on pardoning the participants of opposition protests in 2020, if the citizens forgive them. The Belarusian leader emphasized that one should be able to forgive people, but those who can be forgiven. Lukashenko specified that he hadn't signed the decree because the protesters had "created inconvenience" to the citizens of the country.