In Belarus, citizen pressure is not being curtailed, and on this occasion opponents of President Aleksandr Lukaxenko have joined the indefinite strike. They have been linked to the strike because Lukaxenko has turned deaf ears to the opposition ultimatum. Yesterday, 26 October, a new battle began with a strong desire to continue to mobilise until three petitions were repeatedly extended. Its demands are as follows: Lukaxenko's departure from power, the cessation of violence and the release of political prisoners. "The aim is to show that no one works for the regime," said opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaia.

The strike has been repeated in sectors such as education, industry, services or the public sector in general, among others. The Government reacts strongly and more than 500 people have been arrested on the first day of strike, the Ministry of the Interior has reported to Sputniknews.

Government spokeswoman Aleksandra Isaeva said that "normality has been the predominant note". Since the elections on 9 August, social and political protest in Belarus has developed with clear demands and confronting repression. More than 100,000 citizens took to the streets on Sunday, coinciding with the eleventh day of demonstrations. Lukaxenko has been in power since 1994 and opponents are demanding his dementia.

The European Union, on its first day of strike, considered the strike to be a "fundamental right" and called on Lukaxenko to "respect" this initiative. This is not the first time that the European Union has been in favour of the opposition movement in Europe. Thus, on 13 October he was in favour of punishing the President of Belarus, José Antonio Basagoiti, for the scandal.