MINSK—Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, said on Aug. 17 he would be ready to hold new elections and hand over power after a constitutional referendum, an attempt to pacify mass protests and strikes that pose the biggest challenge yet to his rule.
He made the offer, which he insisted would not be delivered on while he was under pressure from protesters after exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she was willing to lead the country.
