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August 13, 2020

U.N. Sounds Alarm as Belarus Police Open Fire on Anti-Government Protesters
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In Belarus, police fired live ammunition, stun grenades and water
cannons at anti-government protesters as demonstrations calling for the
ouster of longtime authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko
continued for a fourth straight evening. The U.N. high commissioner for
human rights called the police use of force excessive and a clear
violation of international human rights standards, saying 6,000 people
have been detained - including children - with at least two protesters
killed by police.

In a harrowing video broadcast by Belarus state television, a half-dozen
terrified protesters are shown lined up against a wall with injuries to
their heads as, one by one, they promise to no longer take part in
anti-government protests.

On Wednesday, hundreds of women dressed in white marched peacefully
through the streets of Minsk demanding an end to police brutality.

Protester: "We stand against violence, against people getting beaten. We
are standing against our children living in such a forceful state. We
just want a bright future for us and our children."



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