MOSCOW/MINSK (Reuters) - Russia said on Sunday it'd told Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko it had been prepared to provide military help when necessary because demonstrators held the largest protest yet from what they predict Lukashenko's rigged re-election. At least two protesters have died and tens of thousands have been arrested in demonstrations because last Sunday's vote.
Individuals carried white and red flags and chanted "Lukashenko step " and "We won't forgive or forget." He simplifies shedding, mentioning official outcomes that gave him only over 80 percent of their vote.
The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin had informed Lukashenko Moscow was prepared to help Belarus in accordance with a collective military pact if needed and external pressure has been applied into the nation.
It didn't say where from.
Lukashenko, under pressure from the European Union for breaking down on his competitors, said NATO tanks and airplanes were set up 15 minutes in the Belarusian border. NATO said it had been closely monitoring the situation in Belarus, however there wasn't any army build-up in the nation's western boundary.
Lukashenko, who has alleged that a foreign-backed plot to topple him said Belarus was under stress.
"NATO troops are in our gates. Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and also our indigenous Ukraine are ordering us to hold new elections," he stated, adding that Belarus could" perish as a country" if fresh polls have been held.
"I've never betrayed you and will not do this," he explained.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya,'' Lukashenko's opposition competition from the contested election, was called to get a massive" March of Freedom" through Minsk and at different cities and towns on Sunday.
A Reuters reporter said the Minsk section was enormous, with approximately 200,000 people current, which a carnival atmosphere prevailed.
Alexei, a 31-year-old employee, said the protesters' activities may not remain so calm when they didn't get exactly what they wanted.
"We all want Lukashenko to resign," he explained. "For today we're asking, but we'll get sick of asking"
Maria Kolesnikova, an opposition politician who's allied with Tsikhanouskaya, known to Lukashenko as "the former president said he must stop, and sentenced to state officials to leave him.
"That is the final opportunity to conquer your anxiety," she explained. "We're scared also. Join us and we'll encourage you."
Tens of thousands of people participate in anti-Lukashenko protests in different cities and towns.
State workers, including some police officials and country TV employees, have come out in support of their protests and a number of the nation's biggest state-run plants, the backbone of Lukashenko's Soviet-style financial version, have been hit by protests and walkouts.
About 5,000 people attended the pro-Lukashenko demonstration, a Reuters reporter estimated. The Belarusian Interior Ministry put the amount at 65,000. Opposition media stations stated Lukashenko, a one time director of a Soviet-era collective farm, had bussed individuals in and they had been coerced into attending.
Reuters couldn't independently confirm that. One speaker told the audience, who cried: "We're united, indivisible!" As patriotic music appeared out of speakers. "I really don't know why everybody has grown up against him. We get our pensions and wages on time thanks ."
Opposition presidential candidate Tsikhanouskaya, that fled to neighboring Lithuania on Tuesday, needs an election and is forming a federal council to ease a power move.
Lukashenko and Putin have talked double this weekend.