Russia: Vladimir Putin offers military assistance to support Belarus - Business Insider

Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, has offered to send military assistance to support Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko as tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Minsk to demand his resignation.Up to 200,000 people gathered on Sunday in Minsk to protest against disputed elections, according to Reuters, which Lukashenko claims to have won with over 80% of the vote, a result which opponents say was heavily rigged.People carried red and white flags and chanted "Lukashenko step down" and "We won't forget or forgive."Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Lukashenko's opposition rival in the contested election, had called for a huge "March of Freedom" through Minsk and in other towns and cities on Sunday.Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, had previously called for Moscow's assistance to support his regime.