Large crowds likely in protests against Lukashenko in Belarus

Large protests are expected to be held in Belarus later calling for long-time President Alexander Lukashenko to step down as a crackdown intensifies, reported British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

On Saturday, security agents in the capital Minsk detained dozens of people, mostly students, in the fourth weekend of protests.

In a separate march, thousands of women chanted "hands off the children," said the BBC report.

Meanwhile, a top opposition activist said she had taken refuge in Poland after threats from security forces, the report added.

Earlier, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto on August 29 met with the Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Heorhiyeuna Tsikhanouskaya (Svjatlana Tsih’anouskaja) in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius and discussed the situation following the 9 August controversial presidential election in Belarus.

Earlier, on 25 August, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö expressed concern at the situation in Belarus following the controversial presidential election, which failed to meet international criteria and urged for a peaceful solution of the crisis through dialogue.

Click BBC to read the detail original report.