He also said that he had sent his family into hiding, perhaps abroad, because of harassment from opposition protesters.

On inauguration day, hundreds of riot police met opposition protesters outside parliament.

The Kremlin made its first concrete concession to opposition protesters on Wednesday.

Earlier in the week, the police killed six opposition protesters in clashes.

Military and police officers then killed about 200 opposition protesters, and many journalists and politicians were jailed for the next two years.

In the end, another 24 people from the opposition protesters were killed.

The SMC was seen as a safe place for the opposition protesters to go.

Riot police intervened by firing tear gas, rubber bullets and sound bombs on opposition protesters.

When opposition protesters took to the streets in Minsk, many people, including most rival presidential candidates, were beaten and arrested by the state militia.

On the night of the election, opposition protesters chanting "Out!