Opposition activists in Belarus were preparing for fresh protests on Thursday to breathe life into a movement against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko that fizzled out during the winter in the face of a severe crackdown.

About 300 people were detained in the Belarusian capital Minsk at a weekend opposition rally against the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko, the interior ministry said Monday. 

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said Monday supporters were beginning a nationwide strike after her deadline expired for strongman Alexander Lukashenko to step down.

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Monday called for French President Emmanuel Macron to mediate in the political crisis in her homeland, voicing hope that he could involve Vladimir Putin in opening a dialogue.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been sworn in for a sixth term at a secret ceremony held with no prior announcement, the Belta state news agency reported Wednesday.

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya holds talks with EU foreign ministers Monday as they prepare sanctions against the Minsk regime over election rigging and a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.

One of Belarus's leading opposition figures Maria Kolesnikova has been detained while trying to cross into Ukraine, border officials said Tuesday. 

Candidates loyal to Belarus's authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko have swept to victory in parliamentary elections, results showed Monday, with the opposition failing to take a single seat.

The European Union on Thursday formally lifted nearly all of its sanctions against Belarus, including President Alexander Lukashenko, citing improvements in the country's human rights record.

EU foreign ministers made the decision earlier this month after Lukashenko released the last political prisoners and held presidential elections in October which Brussels said passed muster.

The European Union on Monday lifted nearly all its sanctions on Belarus, including against strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, after improvements in the country's human rights record, an EU source said.

The bloc in October suspended its asset freezes and travel ban sanctions against 170 individuals and three entities in Belarus, and foreign ministers and has now decided to make that decision permanent, the source said.