Accessibility links

Breaking News

Belarusian Demonstrators Detained Outside Russian Embassy


Opposition demonstrators outside the Russian Embassy in Minsk on July 16 (RFE/RL) PRAGUE, July 17, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Belarusian authorities detained 30 to 40 demonstrators in Minsk yesterday as they attempted to stage a protest outside the Russian Embassy against Russia's support for Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.


Belapan reported that most of the demonstrators were arrested as they headed toward the embassy. Additional activists were arrested beside the building, according to the Belarusian news agency.

The unsanctioned demonstration came as Russia was hosting the summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations in St. Petersburg from 15-17 July.


Missing Remembered


The activists reportedly also intended to show their support for opposition figures who have disappeared during Lukashenka's rule. For nearly a year, opposition activists have marked those disappearances on the 16 day of the month. Viktar Ganchar, who was deputy chairman of the de jure Belarusian parliament, and his businessman friend Anatol Krasovsky disappeared on September 16, 1999.

In addition, yesterday's protest followed last week's sentencing of former Belarusian presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin to 5 1/2 years in prison on charges of hooliganism and disorderly conduct.

Leader Detained


United Civic Party head Anatol Lyabedzka was among those detained yesterday. He reportedly called his wife last evening to inform her of his detention, but there has been no further contact.

(AFP, Reuters, Belapan)

Minsk, March 25

Minsk, March 25

THE AUTHORITIES GET TOUGH: RFE/RL's Belarus Service filed these images from the police action against the March 25 demonstration in Minsk. Photographs by Maks Kapran.


LISTEN

Listen to the sounds of the demonstration:
Real Audio Windows Media
Real Audio Windows Media

(RFE/RL)

(RFE/RL)

(RFE/RL)

(RFE/RL)



THE COMPLETE PICTURE: Click on the image to view a dedicated page with news, analysis, and background information about the Belarusian presidential ballot.


COVERAGE IN BELARUSIAN: Click on the image to view RFE/RL's coverage of the election campaign in Belarusian and to listen to RFE/RL's Belarusian Service.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG