FX.co ★ Politics: situation in Belarus on August 26. Navalny poisoning. Kremlin's rhetoric and mistakes

Thousands of people protested against President Lukashenko at Independence Square in Minsk, chanting "Lukashenko, go away!" At the same time, 300-500 Lukashenko's supporters gathered near the Komarovsky food market, amongst them 90% were elderly people.

The Coordination Council of Belarus is acting peacefully and is ready to begin negotiations on Lukashenko's resignation. Meanwhile, Lukashenko insists on his victory with 80% of votes. Interestingly, even his supporters do not believe the election results. A video showing frightened Lukashenko wielding a Kalashnikov rifle at his residence accompanied by his armed 15-year old son does not in any way coincide with the image of the winner of the election, who received 80% of the vote.

The Kremlin finally commented on the crisis in Belarus. Thus, the Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov considers reform of the Belarusian constitution a viable solution to the country's political crisis. This is a clear attempt to keep power in the hands of Lukashenko.

If the Kremlin urged Lukashenko to hold negotiations with the opposition and step down peacefully, it would keep and gain a lot of respect in Belarus. However, Russia's support of Lukashenko is a big mistake as it can lose trust and respect of Belarusians as it has previously lost Ukraine and the Ukrainians.

Berlin Charite hospital said in a statement that its data indicated Alexei Navalny was poisoned.

The Kremlin refused to open a criminal investigation of Navalny's poisoning. It is another mistake of the Russian government, as if the Kremlin and the Federal Security Service have nothing to do with it, an investigation should be launched in order to bring the one responsible for the crime to justice. By immediately refusing to investigate the crime, the Kremlin only acknowledges its involvement in the poisoning.