A wave of protests and strikes in Belarus has entered its second week with massive demonstrations taking place over the weekend.
In the capital city Minsk, tens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators came together for the „March for Freedom”. Protesters demanded a re-run of this month’s Presidential election, which the incumbent President is widely accused of rigging.
The March, attended by at least 100,000 people, was the largest single demonstration President Aleksandyr Lukashenko has faced since he took power in 1994.
Maria Kolesnikova, a leader of the opposition in Belarus, called on Police to show courage and abandon Lukashenko, whom she described as the „former president”.
A pro-government counter-protest across the city was only attended by a few hundred supporters of the president. Some reports say state-employees were forced to attend.
However, in a potentially major escalation, Russia has reportedly offered Lukashenko’s government any assistance necessary to secure power.
According to reports by Belarus’s state news agency, President Lukashenko spoke on Saturday with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. President Putin reportedly offered assistance, including military assistance.
The proposal has raised fears Russia could intervene militarily in Belarus similarly to how it intervened in Ukraine following the 2013 Euromaidan protests.
Supporters of LGBT rights have clashed with nationalist groups in the Polish capital Warsaw.
Gay rights demonstrators bearing rainbow flags faced off against nationalists outside the campus of Warsaw University.
The two sides were kept separate by a thick Police cordon and the meeting remained non-violent and dispersed peacefully after a few hours. No arrests have been reported.
The UK has granted permanent residency to two million European Union citizens living in the country ahead of the end of the Brexit transition process in December. A further 1.5 million „pre-settled” Europeans will be able to apply for permanent residency after five years living in the UK.
The move ensures Europeans living in Britain will keep their rights to access public services on the same basis as they do now.
4,600 applications to live in the UK after Brexit were rejected while some 36,500 were withdrawn.
Britons living in the EU are being given the same rights, though in somewhat smaller numbers.
The Pomeranian provincial government is offering grants to non-governmental organisations helping with the integration of migrants living in the province.
A total of 150,000 zlotych has been allocated this year as part of Pomerania’s development strategy for 2030.
The grants will go to NGO’s helping migrants in the labour market, education, health care and other social services.
Quoted on the Gdansk city website, provincial Marshall Mieczyslaw Struk said the integration of foreigners was an important task for the province in the coming decade. He added that the grants were designed to encourage migrants to integrate and settle long-term in the region.
The influx of migrants has become an important key to Poland’s continued economic growth, helping to fill labour and skill shortages, especially in the metropolitan regions.
The Gdansk Saint Dominic’s Fair has wound up for another year. The 750th annual fair officially ended yesterday after three weeks of markets, parades, and ancient tradition.
The closing ceremony saw a parade down Dluga to the Atrus Court, where the key to the city was formally returned to the Mayor by the merchants, the traditional organisers of the fair.
The parade also featured many of the bizarre mascots and characters the fair has amassed over seven and a half centuries. A golden Hermes, the patron of merchants, stilt-walkers, town criers, and of course the fair’s own Crimson Rooster all made the walk to return the symbolic key.
Weather
Mostly cloudy this afternoon with sunshine in some parts. Highs today of 27°C, 80°F. Clearing up again into tomorrow morning with temperatures remaining in the high 20s.
Thomas Holdstock/am
