Tear gas fired to disperse protesters in Minsk (Video, photo)

A great number of people were arrested in Minsk in the evening of July 3, tear gas was used.

A call was spread on the Internet to gather near the central train station in Minsk on July 3, the official Independence Day, to clap without slogans protesting against the regime’s policy.

In Belarus, where all pro-opposition mass actions are forbidden, even this type of protest makes the authorities nervous. There was the unprecedented number of policemen and security service officers at the military parade attended by Lukashenka. Everyone who tried to clap was immediately detained. Even after Lukashenka had finished his speech, no one dared to applaud even among officials.

At 7:00 pm, people began to gather at the central railway station, which was already full of riot police. Exits of metro and pedestrian underpass were blocked.

About 1000 people gathered near the train station and on the opposite side. Hundreds of people welcomed protesters from the station building. Dwellers of nearby houses came out onto balconies and applaud.

Plainclothes riot policemen began to detain people on the square. They neither introduced themselves nor showed police ID cards. Protesters resisted to detention, passers-by and protesters shouted loudly trying to stop illegal arrests.

Police used tear gas, beat people brutally and dragged them to police vans.

Police continued to detain people in Kirau Street close to the station. People were beaten on bus stops.

After the first wave of dispersal a group of women gathered near one of the towers opposite the station. They loudly protested against high prices, in particular prices on children’s goods. One of the woman was in hysterics: “How much diapers and baby food cost? How can I survive?” she cried. Journalists surrounded the woman. Police chief Yauseeu came closer and tried to disperse them. People

in mufti formed a human chain and forced out the rest 300 or 400 protesters.

Over 100 persons were detained near the central railway station. At least 70 persons were detained in the morning during the military parade, human rights activists report. The number of the detained can be much larger. So, about 200 people were detained in Minsk on July 3.

There was an attempt to detain Polish journalist Agnieszka Lechtarowicz, but she was freed three minutes later after she showed her press card, Interfax-Zapad reports.

Belarusian journalists were detained in spite of any press cards. Internet media say Yulia Darashkevich, a photo correspondent for pro-opposition “Nasha Niva” newspaper, was detained.

There was an attempt to snatch a camera from Radio Svaboda journalist Halina Abakunchyk, but she grabbed it out of the hands of a man in mufti.

Besides, Euroradio correspondent Pavel Svyardlou was detained. He is supposed to be in a detention facility in Akrestsin Street.

Valer Shchukin, a well-known Belarusian oppositionist and former member of the Supreme Council of Belarus of the 13th convocation, was detained too.