Belarus leader accuses opposition of plotting a coup

Belarus’ authoritarian leader has charged that the opposition was plotting a coup in the runup to last year’s presidential election that triggered a monthslong wave of mass protests

KYIV, Ukraine -- Belarus' authoritarian leader on Monday charged that the opposition was plotting a coup in the runup to last year's presidential election that triggered a monthslong wave of mass protests demanding his resignation. President Alexander Lukashenko held his annual press conference on the one-year anniversary of the vote that handed him a sixth term in office but was denounced by the opposition and the West as rigged. In his opening remarks, Lukashenko defended the election and accused the opposition of preparing a coup. “We back then carried out preparation for the election and the election itself in the conditions of total transparency and democratization of political life,” Lukashenko said. “The difference was only that some were preparing for fair election, and others called for bashing the authorities — for a coup.”