President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko said he was "kneeling" in front of his supporters, who gathered on Sunday at Independence Square in Minsk at a rally in support of the authorities, TASS reported from the scene.

"Thank you very much. I kneel here before you for the first time in my life. You deserve it," the president said and then stepped down from the podium and bowed deeply.

Presidential elections in Belarus took place on August 9. According to the final data of the CEC, the current head of state won the elections with 80.1% of the vote.