On August 9, after the voting in the Belarusian presidential election had concluded, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka was declared the winner, purportedly taking an overwhelming 80 percent of the vote. Activists took to the streets of the capital, Minsk, and other cities to protest and make it known that they neither accept nor believe the count that handed Mr. Lukashenka, who has been in power since 1994, a sixth term in office. The police reacted with stark brutality for all the world to see, using flash grenades, water cannons and rubber bullets against the peaceful demonstrators, kicking protesters and beating them with batons. Hundreds were injured.
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