After weeks of protests, what had been a carnival atmosphere has been replaced by tension and fear as police officers revived some of the heavy-handed violence seen when people first took to the streets after the much-contested election. The protests come ahead of talks between Mr. Lukashenko and President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday — the first meeting between the two leaders since the crisis in Belarus began. The talks would focus on developing the “strategic partnership and alliance” between Russia and Belarus, Mr. Putin said. Analysis: Mr. Lukashenko cannot possibly expel or jail everyone in Belarus who wants him gone, said one opponent, and so “does not know what to do anymore. Our strategy of peaceful protest really works.”Opinion: The crackdown on peaceful protests over a blatantly fixed election is an affront to everyone who cherishes democracy and elemental fairness, writes the Times’s editorial board.

Source: International New York Times September 14, 2020 02:48 UTC