Lukashenko, still in power in Belarus, rewards security forces as protests continue

Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, on Tuesday awarded medals "for impeccable service" to law enforcement officials who have helped him crack down on protesters demanding he step down for the last 10 days.

In an effort to clamp down on strike action that has hit some of the country's most important factories, the government also issued a missive to managers of state-run plants telling them to ensure workers fulfil their duties or be disciplined.

Lukashenko, who has been in power for the last 26 years, is under pressure to resign, with no sign to an end of protests and strikes against what protesters say was a rigged Aug. 9 presidential election that he says he won.

At least two protesters were killed and thousands detained in the post-election crackdown. The opposition saysSvetlanaTikhanovskaya was the rightful winner and wants new elections.

WATCH | Actors atBelarus theatre resign en masse:

Belarus theatre becomes new political battleground

4 years ago

Duration 0:43

Actors at the Kupalauski theatre in Belarus resigned en masse in front of the country's culture minister after the theatre's director was fired for supporting ongoing anti-government protests.

Russia watching closely

The European Union is gearing up to impose new sanctions on Minsk over its crackdown. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that Berlin wanted the Belarusian government to refrain from violence, release political prisonersand start talks with the opposition.

Russia, a traditional ally of Minsk, is watching closely as Belarus hosts pipelines that carry Russian energy exports to the West and is viewed by Moscow as a buffer zone against NATO.

Putin held a third phone call in four days with Lukashenko on Tuesday, the Belta news agency reported.

Putin told Lukashenko about calls he made on Tuesday toAngela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron. The Russian leader had told the German chancellor and French president that any external interference in the internal affairs of Moscow's neighbours would be unacceptable, Belta said.

The two leaders spoke by phone on both Saturday and Sunday, with Moscow offering military support to Minsk if necessary.

Chants of 'shame' at Minsk theatre

Hundreds of protesters chanting "shame" gathered at a theatrein Minsk on Tuesday in solidarity with its director, who was fired for speaking out in support of the opposition.

They later converged on a prison where the husband of exiled opposition leader Tikhanovskaya has been detained since the end of May. He was planning to run against Lukashenko in the election, buthis wife took his place when he was jailed.

Lukashenko is battling to contain the biggest challenge yet to his grip on power, as protests over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the electionand other grievances spiral into a revolt among swaths of society.

He was heckled by factory workers on Monday and has faced opposition from people normally seen as loyal. The Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia and four other diplomats have resigned in support of the demonstrators.

A co-ordination council pushed by Tikhanovskaya to facilitate a transition of power was due to meet in Minsk later on Tuesday for the first time.

Many detained protesters have complained of punishment beatings, cramped conditions and starvation rations.

The European Union is considering imposing sanctions on Belarusian individuals linked to violence and election fraud, Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said on Tuesday. EU leaders will discuss the situation in Belarus on Wednesday, she said.

Trump says he'll talk to Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump also on Tuesday said he would talk to Russia "at the appropriate time" in the wake ofprotests that Trump said appeared mostly peaceful.

"I like seeing democracy," Trump told reports at an unrelated event at the White House. "It doesn't seem like it's too much democracy there in Belarus."

"It's certainly a very big march, and it seems to be a peaceful march," he added.

Trump gave no other details about when he would hold talks with Moscow, adding that he would also speak to other people.