I Will Not Sit at the Negotiation Table with Those Gathered in the Streets, Says Lukashenko

The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has stated that no one is willing to sit at the negotiation table with the "rioting youth" gathered in the streets. However, he is open to dialogue with labor and student collectives, including discussions on amendments to the country’s Constitution, according to ria.ru.

“Therefore, representatives of all labor and student collectives, let us gather at the negotiation table. Both farmers have the right to speak, as do workers, specialists from enterprises, teachers, and doctors. Not the rioting youth who walk the streets and shout that they want dialogue. They do not want any dialogue. And no one will sit at the negotiation table with those gathered in the streets,” Lukashenko declared.

The Belarusian president has asserted that he is also prepared to engage in discussions regarding the renewal of the Constitution. Lukashenko noted that this is his “clear vision and statement” about with whom he is ready to hold dialogue.

“If there are rational individuals in the opposition who envision their country as free and independent, you can express your opinion, but not in the streets. There will be no dialogue in Belarus under the pressure of the streets,” the head of state emphasized.

It is worth reminding that protests in Belarus have been ongoing since August 10, following the presidential elections on August 9, where the incumbent president was declared the winner with 80 percent of the vote. In the initial days of the protests, thousands of people were arrested, hundreds were injured, and 3 protesters lost their lives. Some sources report 5 fatalities.