Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the main challenger in Belarus’s disputed presidential election, has fled to Lithuania after a second night of street clashes between police and opposition supporters left a protester dead.
Tikhanovskaya, who refused to concede defeat against President Alexander Lukashenko in Sunday’s vote, had arrived in the neighbouring country and was safe, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said on Tuesday.
He did not provide any further details, but EU and NATO member Lithuania, which like Belarus was once part of the Soviet Union, has a history of granting refuge to Belarusian and Russian opposition figures. Tikhanovskaya’s whereabouts had been unclear after campaign staff said they had lost contact with her and there had been concern for her safety.
Her surfacing in Lithuania came after thousands took to the streets of the capital, Minsk, for a second night on Monday, after authorities said long-time leader Lukashenko had secured a sixth term with 80 per cent of the vote. Tikhanovskaya, a political novice who has energised the opposition, came second with 10 per cent and protesters are backing her claim to have won the election.
For the second consecutive night, police used rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas to disperse demonstrations, though protesters fought back with stones and fireworks and built makeshift barricades. Dozens of people have been injured in the violence and the first death was confirmed on Monday when police said a man died after an explosive device went off in his hand.