Belarusian authorities reel in hundreds of protestors

Authorities take a protestor into custody during a demonstration in Minsk, 3 July 2011. Photo: PAP/EPA/Tatyana Zenkovich

According to human rights organisations operating in Poland’s eastern neighbour, at least 200 people have been arrested in Minsk alone, with opposition activists also being taken into custody in Gomel, Brest, and Mogilev.

A number of journalists have been arrested, including correspondents for Belsat TV working in Minsk and Grodno. A reporter for TOK FM was also taken in by authorities, but released soon after.

Belarusian militia in Grodno also detained Polish minority campaigner Igor Bancer, who has been present outside the city’s courts in the ongoing case against journalist and activist Andrzej Poczobut.

Tear gas and beatings

In Minsk, Militia used tear gas to disperse demonstrators taking part in a silent protest by the capital’s railway station.

As can be seen by a number of amateur videos uploaded to the Internet, Militia functionaries were unhesitant to use force. A number of undercover operatives also arrested a number of the protestors.

Unofficial sources say around 100 people were arrested during the demonstration by the Minsk railway station.

In addition, human rights organisations have counted some 70 arrests during an army parade and speech given by Alexander Lukashenko for Belarus’ Independence Day.

No clapping, please

Some of the arrests came as people started clapping, which has been deemed as a sign of silent protest by regime authorities in Belarus.

The move to ban clapping comes as demonstrators have been using web-based social networks to organise silent protests every Wednesday since the beginning of June.

While no banners have been held up to protest against authorities, which would likely end in arrest, demonstrators have taken to clapping as a sign of objection to Lukashenko’s regime. (jb)