Police, internal forces and riot police are deployed in the center of the Belarusian capital, Minsk, where a new, unlicensed, mass protest event is expected to be organized today by opposition supporters

Since the morning, traffic police cars have started blocking traffic on the streets adjacent to Istiklal Street, one of the city's central transportation streets. Despite this, traffic is still open on the same street.

A large convoy of security forces walked down this street towards the city center: it included trucks to transport people, enclosed vehicles, cars with water cannons, and armored vehicles.

On Sunday, the term of the "popular ultimatum" presented by the Belarusian opposition, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, to the republic's authorities ends. Tikhanovskaya insists that if a number of opposition demands are not met by October 26, then a general strike will be declared in all institutions throughout the country. These demands include the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko, the release of all political prisoners, and an end to "violence in the streets."

Source: Novosti

By:Nadeemy Haded