In Belarus, more than two thousand students and teachers of Grodno State University named after Yanka Kupala signed a petition with a number of demands, including new elections. This was reported by the Belarusian service Radio Liberty.
The authors of the appeal noted that the elections on August 9 were held with violations. They were not open and public, independent observers were not allowed at the polling stations, the turnout was overestimated at many stations, and not all voters could get acquainted with the final protocols.
In addition, they drew attention to violence on the streets during peaceful protests, detention of people who did not even participate in rallies, torture in police stations and pretrial detention centers.
"We want to live in a country where elections are fair, where the police guarantees the safety of citizens and does not threaten their lives and health. We don't want to be afraid to go out on the streets in our city," the statement says.
In particular, the following requirements are specified in the petition:
- bring to justice those who beat and killed protesters;
- release political prisoners and those detained during peaceful protests;
- declare the August 9 elections invalid, hold new elections;
- bring to justice those who participated in the falsification of election results.
The petition was signed by students of all faculties of the university, graduate students, graduates of various courses, as well as more than 50 teachers.
Earlier, the rector of the Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno, Iryna Kyturka, expressed her support for the participants of the protests detained by security forces and promised that they would not fire teachers or expel students for their political views.
