OREANDA-NEWS. Former presidential opposition candidate in Belarus, oppositionist Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya recorded a new video message urging workers to continue and expand strikes.

“The future of Belarus, and hence the future of our children, now depends on your unity and your determination. Therefore, I ask you to continue and expand the strikes. Don’t be fooled by intimidation. Unite,” the politician said. In her video, she addressed the employees of the Minsk Tractor Works, Belaruskali, Grodno Azot and other enterprises. Tsikhanovskaya called the strikes “an absolutely legal and powerful weapon against the regime.” Among the goals, she mentioned the end to violence, release of political prisoners and holding of new “free and fair elections.”

On August 9, presidential election was held in Belarus; current head of state Alexander Lukashenko won. Due to disagreement with the election results, mass protests and strikes at enterprises began in the country.