MINSK, 24 August (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko was in the situation center in the Palace of Independence all day long on 24 August and monitored the situation, Belarus president's spokesperson Natalya Eismont told reporters, BelTA has learned.
“He was there at the moment, in the late afternoon, when the so-called demonstrators resorted to a kind of storming of the building. At this moment the head of state was also in the Palace. However, it looked like demonstrators' bravery did not last long. When these people saw what could happen, they quickly backed down and literally ran in the opposite direction,” the spokesperson said.
In her words, after that the president ordered a helicopter and flew over the city. “He looked at the so-called rally from above. He kept the situation under control. Upon returning to the Palace of Independence, the first thing the head of state did was thanking the guys who defended the Palace along the perimeter. He also talked to the riot policemen and thanked them,” Natalya Eismont said.
“Just like the president said, he did not flee anywhere though individual bloggers and Telegram channels tried to present it this way. His children were also with him. You can see footage showing his youngest son,” Natalya Eismont added.
Earlier, mass media showed videos recorded on the phone showing Aleksandr Lukashenko near the Palace of Independence, including footage of his conversation with law enforcement officers.
