All so-called protesters are people with a criminal past and currently unemployed, says Lukashenko
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has emphasized the necessity of protecting constitutional order and ensuring the safety of citizens. He stated, "As we agreed before the elections, we need to meet and discuss the pressing issues for our state. It is clear from the current situation that one of the most crucial tasks for the authorities, particularly for the Security Council, is to ensure the safety of our citizens, protect constitutional order, and stabilize the functioning of state bodies," Lukashenko said during a meeting with members of the Security Council, as reported by the BelTA news agency.
Lukashenko highlighted that the priority continues to be the functioning of the economy. According to him, most of the citizens staging protests in the country come from backgrounds with criminal records and are currently unemployed. "All those so-called protesters are primarily people with a criminal past and currently unemployed. If there is no work, it means you can freely roam the streets and avenues. Therefore, I ask and warn all those without jobs to seek employment," said the Belarusian leader.
It is worth mentioning that the individuals taking to the streets are expressing their dissatisfaction with the results of the presidential elections, which indicated that Lukashenko received over 80 percent of the votes. Earlier today, it was reported that following the presidential elections held on August 9, the opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was not the only one to protest the results, as three of President Alexander Lukashenko's other competitors—Anna Kanopatskaya, Andrey Dmitriyev, and Sergey Cherechen—also filed complaints regarding the election results.