Jailed Belarussian politician vowes to oust Lukashenko

Alexander Milinkevich remained defiant as he spoke from behind prison bars. The Belarussian opposition leader has been sentenced to 15 days detention for taking part in an unauthorised rally in the capital Minsk yesterday.

Two other activists were also jailed following the march which was staged to mark the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the opposition united civil paty: “This makes all those who oppose the regime of Lukashenko look like either hooligans or outlaws.” The Chernobyl march is traditionally a forum for Belarussion opposition.Organisers must ask permission to stage the rally and inform police of the route. This year a pre-march gathering of opposition leaders attracted crowds. Several of them condemned last month’s landslide election win for President Alexander Lukashenko, which they say was a rigged poll. At the rally Milinkevich told supporters that he planned to oust the president within two years through civil disobedience.