Workers and students joined together in a nationwide strike calling for the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko.

Footage filmed on October 26 shows thousands occupying the streets of Minsk after the president ignored an ultimatum calling for him to step down.

A nationwide strike announced by opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has started on Monday morning, 26 October. Employees of numeours state enterprises, universities, hundreds of private organizations – medical centers, shops, bars, cafes, language schools, gyms, travel companies, design studios, beauty salons– have joined the protest. Strikes are a result of the expiration of the People’s Ultimatum demanding Lukashenko to resign, violence to stop and political prisoners to be released. The demands of the Ultimatum were not fulfilled. On their way to Yakub Kolasa Square, the protesters were chanting “Karaev [Interior Minister] on trial!”, passing the KGB building, “Tribunal!” chants were heard. According to various estimates, up to 8,000 people took part in a mixed student-pensioner protest.

Workers and students across Belarus declared strikes on Monday, heeding a call for a national strike to try to force authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko to resign at the start of what could be an important week for the country's protest movement.

The strike was called by Belarus' main opposition leader, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, in response to Lukashenko ignoring an ultimatum to step down by Sunday night.