Belarus prepares for biggest protest yet after week of anger

Crisis-hit leader Lukashenko claims Putin has offered him ‘comprehensive help’ ahead of planned Minsk protest

Belarusians are preparing for what could be the biggest protest in the country’s history on Sunday afternoon, as an extraordinary week of rising protest sentiment comes to a close.

Just seven days after authoritarian ruler, Alexander Lukashenko, claimed to have secured 80% of the vote in a presidential ballot, his legitimacy is in tatters and his regime is facing its biggest crisis since he first came to power 26 years ago. The protest mood was stoked further by egregious police violence against thousands of protesters early in the week.

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