Belarus Protests: President Alexander Lukashenko Dissenters Put ‘White-Red-White’ Undergarments In Balconies, Police Confiscates Flags

The 'white-red-white' flag, a symbol Belarusian nationalism, is back in focus amid the raging nationwide protests in Belarus. The flag that officially represented Belarus for only two brief periods in the last 100 years is now being used by demonstrators to ring a clarion call against the Alexander Lukashenko-led regime.

Dissenters of the incumbent President decided to arrange their inner wears and t-shirts in the white-red-white format in their balconies to mark their angst against the government. The strategy to use undergarments, including bra, was adopted after the police reportedly confiscated the erstwhile national flags that were put in private balconies. Tens of thousands of people marched through Minsk on September 6 calling on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to step down in mass demonstrations that showed no sign of abating nearly a month after an election his opponents say was rigged.

Columns of protesters defied a government warning not to march, waving red-and-white opposition flags and shouting "go away" and "you're a rat". Unprecedented protests broke out after Lukashenko claimed re-election with 80 percent of the vote on August 9.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 07, 2020 07:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).