World shocked with brutality of Belarusian authorities

Crackdown of an opposition action in honour of Freedom Day 25 March in Minsk is in the focus of attention of the biggest world informational agencies, newspapers and TV channels.

“Hundreds of demonstrators staged an unauthorized rally in the centre of Minsk and clashed with police. Eyewitnesses said dozens were detained. Lukashenka ... seeks better ties with the West, particularly the EU. Several detainees deemed political prisoners have been freed,” Reuters informs.

Associated Press notes “Police beat demonstrators with truncheons” during breaking up the several-thousand demonstration. “One protester, a middle-aged woman, was tripped and tackled by riot police as she tried to run away, then dragged screaming by her hair to a waiting police bus,” the agency reported.

“There have been violent scenes in Minsk, after riot police clashed with thousands of demonstrators at a banned rally,” EuroNews reports. It reminds former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin was detained at the rally in Freedom Day two years ago.

BBC notes: “Dozens were arrested at the rally, an event which in recent years has become a protest against the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenka.” The TV channel informs riot militia beat protesters as they broke up the rally.

Russian TV channels, newspapers International Herald Tribune, USA Today, German informational agency DPA and others reported about events in Minsk.