Grassroots protests continue in Minsk (Photo, video)

Minsk centre was again cordoned off by riot police and special purpose vehicles on June 22.

We remind that the group “Revolution through social networks” called on Belarusians to gather every Wednesday for protest actions against the political and economic situation in the country. Since June 8, Belarusians have come to central squares without any symbols and expressed their protest by clapping their hands or stamping.

October (Kastrychnitskaya) Square of Minsk was enclosed by riot control barriers since 5 in the evening. A prison van was left demonstratively on the square in front of the outdoor TV screen.

A great number of policemen and riot policemen, both plainclothes and in uniform, can be noticed in Minsk centre. Their number was estimated at several thousands.

Independence Avenue was blocked. Metro trains do not stop at the Kastrychnitskaya and Kupalauskaya stations. A lot of police cars and empty city buses stand on Victory Square. Only public transport was allowed to move to Independence Square from Maskouskaya Street.

Staying on October Square was forbidden. Riot policemen said an event would be organized on the square, but did not say which. People, forced out from the square by riot police, sat on the parapet along Engels Street, but police made them disperse.

A great number of riot policemen was on Victory Square and Freedom Square.

Journalist of Radio Svaboda Aleh Hruzdzilovich was caught by police on October Square. Two riot policemen dragged him to police buses neat the Palace of the Republic. The journalist tried to flee and kneeled, but policemen twisted his arms. Two more riot police officer helped to push him into a bus. Interfax journalist Ruslan Ryndzevich, BelaPAN video operator Pavel Padabed, journalist of Salidarnasts and “Nasha Niva” Syarhei Balai and Ales Piletski were detained.

Nevertheless, the number of people continued to grow. They occupied pavements near McDonald’s restaurant and on the avenue’s opposite side, near Patio Pizza café. Protesters clapped their hands, cars supported them by honking. Riot policemen divided the crowd in two parts near Central store. One part was pushed aside to McDonald’s, the other one to October Square. Some people were detained.

About 1,500 people stand at the intersection of International Street and Winners Avenue, near Europe Hotel. Some hundreds of policemen and riot policemen stand nearby. Over 1,000 people were on Engels Street, near the National Bank and GUM department store. Riot police push the crowd to Nyamiha city district.

Police continued to detain protesters on Freedom Square. Policemen said on walkie-talkie that 150 people were detained.

Minsk centre was full of protesters and riot policemen in black uniform. Police’s inadequate actions only made Minsk residents angry giving them a reason to join actions of non-violent resistance.