Punishers. “We Remember“ (Photo)

Minsk riot militia violated the law again by suppressing a rally “We Remember” on September 16.

On September 16, dozens of Belarusians came to October Square in Minsk carrying portraits of opposition leaders Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasouski, kidnapped and killed ten years ago. Even under Lukashenka’s laws, standing with portraits and candles can’t be considered an unauthorized street action. Nevertheless, about 100 riot militiamen in uniform and in mufti were thrown against the demonstrators.

Physical force was used to arrest 35 people. Many of the detained persons were beaten up in the Tsentralny district militia department. People were made to stand facing a wall with their hands raised for 2.5 hours. This is regarded as a torture by the international law. People were brutally beaten for any movement, for a refusal to give fingerprints. The detained were insulted, girls were threatened with raping.

Riot militiamen told the arrested demonstrators: “We are a punitive organization!”