Russia said it was prepared to provide security support to Alexander Lukashenko, as hundreds of thousands of opponents of the Belarusian strongman rallied across the country demanding he step down after last week’s disputed election.

The biggest opposition rally came in the capital Minsk, where, amid a cacophony of blaring car horns, protesters flooded the area around the Stela second world war monument, waving flags and chanting “Leave! Leave!” Local media said as many as 200,000 people took part.

Yet even as the domestic pressure mounted, Mr Lukashenko received support from Moscow. The Kremlin said on Sunday that President Vladimir Putin had spoken to his Belarusian counterpart, taking note of “external pressure” on Belarus, and had offered to provide assistance “if necessary” through a collective defence security pact of former Soviet states.