Lukashenko Appears Again with a Handgun

The leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has been seen again with a pistol in hand, according to a photo shared by his press secretary in response to a question from RIA Novosti about the president's whereabouts.

In the photograph published by the agency, Lukashenko is seen at the Independence Palace wearing a bulletproof vest while holding a handgun.

As previously reported, a protest action called the "March of Peace and Independence" took place yesterday in Minsk. Participants of the march approached the Independence Palace, where the President of Belarus resides. The building was surrounded by heavily armed OMON units and internal troops.

It is worth recalling that Lukashenko had previously appeared before protesters armed with an automatic rifle. On August 23, a video was released showing the Belarusian president flying over Minsk in a helicopter while monitoring a massive protest rally.

Later, Lukashenko explained his armed presence in public by citing threats of a nuclear strike from NATO. "Listen, for a quarter of a century, I have never pointed my fingers at the people, let alone fired a weapon," he stated.