Mass arrests and beating on Freedom day in Minsk (Online report, video)

A mass demonstration in honour of Freedom Day is held today in the Minsk center. Militia blocked Yakub Kolas Square, where participants of the action were to meet. Thousands of people have taken to Independence Avenue in Minsk. Cordons of riot militia are beating brutally the people. However, mass protests go on, people are breaking riot militia cordons and moving along Independence Avenue. Militia detained people near Victory Square. Tens and probably hundreds of people have been arrested.

8.05p.m.

Action near the Academy of Sciences is over. People were not allowed to go to the city center along the avenue. There is information about detained people near Victory Square. It is known that 49 people are in the militia department of the Savetski District of Minsk. So it’s safe to say the number of detained demonstrators exceeds 100 people.

7.45p.m.

A column of demonstrators is trying to march from the Academy of Science along Independence Avenue towards Yakub Kolas Square. The road was cordoned off by riot policemen in helmets, two armoured MAZ trucks and a bus.

7.35p.m.

People, who are now in different militia departments of Minsk, are seriously beaten. It is known that some of them have broken ribs and head injuries. Zmitser Dashkevich had big bruises on his face, when he was being packed into a bus.

7.25 p.m.

22 A truck with loud speakers drove up to the Academy of Sciences. Militia threats to use physical force and special equipment against the participants of the action, if they don’t disperse.

7.15p.m.

About 300 people moved from Victory Square to October Square and were detained on the bridge above the Svislach. Tens of people were packed into buses and taken away. Most of the detained are members of the United Civil Party.

7.10p.m.

According to the current information, about 25 people have been guarded to the militia department of the Savetski District of Minsk. Tens of people were probably guarded to other militia departments of Minsk. Youth leaders Yauhen Afnahel, Artur Finkevich, Zmitser Dashkevich and Franak Vyachorka are among the detained.

7.00p.m.

Demonstration near the Academy of Sciences goes on. About four thousands of people stay there. A large amount of European and national white-red-white flags are waving. People carry a huge banner “Freedom for Kazulin!” Opposition leaders are holding a meeting there. The authorities permitted the demonstrants to meet near the Academy of Sciences. Demonstrants had to go there after cordons of militia and riot militia didn’t allow them to meet on Yakub Kolas Square. People, who managed to avoid arrest near Victory Square, came there, too.

6.45p.m.

More and more people are seized and packed into buses. Thus, four paddy-wagons were packed full. The passage along the avenue is blocked by military trucks and policemen.

6.40p.m.

Militia began to detain people near Victory Square. Ten and probably hundreds of people are arrested. People are beaten brutally. Militia detain even journalists. Among the arrested is photo correspondent of “Nasha Niva” Andrei Lyankevich, militiamen dragged bloody faced Lyankevich into a militia vehicle.

6.37p.m.

Army vehicles with militiamen in helmets and with shields drove up to Victory Square

6.35p.m.

At the moment about 3,000 people have gathered near the Academy of Science. They are people who hadn’t managed to Yakub Kolas Square. On Victory Square the confrontation of demonstrators with riot policemen continues. Riot policemen went onto the offensive. Clasping hands, they moved as one chain, pushing protesters off the avenue. But participants of the rally nevertheless are trying to break through riot policemen’s cordons.

6.30p.m.

People are beaten brutally in the backyards near Independence Avenue, and taken away in unknown direction.

6.25p.m.

About a thousand of people are near the Academy of Sciences now. The same number of participants of the action stay near Belvar plant. Militia officers are trying to force them out of Independence Avenue.

6.20p.m.

Militia continue to beat people. Independence Avenue has turned into battlefield. European and national white-red-white flags appeared under the foot of riot militiamen. Riot militia formed a four-line chain on the avenue and divided the column in two.

6.17p.m.

Riot militiamen are literally stifling people, beating them brutally, snatching away flags, tramping them in mud and breaking flagpoles.

6.15p.m.

Militia and riot militiamen began to beat people. They caught even journalists, broke their equipment. They snatched away flags and broke flagpoles. But the protestors managed to defend the people, militia was trying to detain, and the column under whit-red-white and European flags is moving along the avenue.

6.12p.m.

Demonstrants have broken through the cordon of riot militia and now are moving along Independence Avenue to Victory Square.

6.10p.m.

Riot militiamen encircled participants of the demonstration and keep them in the circle. People are trying to break through a cordon and shouting “Long live Belarus!”

6.05p.m.

The number of action participants is growing. About 2-3 thousands of people are on Independence Avenue now, white-red-white and European flags are waving. Demonstrants are carrying a big banner “European Belarus”, shouting “Long Live Belarus,” and moving to Victory Square. Militia and riot militiamen are following them.

6.00p.m.

Independence Avenue is blocked by tens of militiamen and riot militiamen, who have come there. They formed a chain and are moving to people, forcing them out of the avenue.

5.55p.m.

The number of action participants is growing. People are gathering on Independence Avenue opposite the Minsk Gymnasium No23. They unfurled national white-red-white flags. Many people have brought white and red flowers. Demonstrants shout “Long live Belarus!” and demand to let them go to Yakub Kolas Square.

5.50p.m.

Participants of the action on Freedom Day are gathering on Independence Avenue opposite the Minsk Gymnasium No23. About 1000 people, shouting “Long live Belarus!”, have already gathered.

5.45p.m.

Independence Avenue is blocked from the side of the Academy of Sciences. Militiamen don’t allow people to go to Yakub Kolas Square and say via loud speakers the moving is forbidden.

5.40p.m.

Militia blocked Independence Avenue near Victory Square and don’t allow people to come to Yakub Kolas Square.

5.35p.m.

Metro trains don’t stop at Yakub Kolas station, where a protest action is to begin at 18.00. city buses don’t stop on Yakub Kolas Square, too. The public transport goes to Victory Square or Academy of Sciences, and drivers announce: “the bus won’t stop at the square due to the demonstration.”