Vladimir Putin is carefully watching unfolding events in neighbouring Belarus, where riot police have been deployed and used rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas at furious protestors.
Clashes between police and protestors spilled onto the streets of the Belarusian capital, Minsk, following the results of what opposition candidates branded a rigged election.Following the August 9 presidential ballott, there have been mass arrests of opposition candidates, bloggers, journalists and protestors.Incumbent president Alexander Lukashenka claimed to have won with 80% of the vote, with his closest rival Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya reportedly nabbing only 10%.The Human Rights Watch organisation’s Europe and Central Asia director Hugh Williamson.
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