BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

17/08/2007

Belarusian Police Block Opposition Protest In Minsk

Police prevented a crowd of young opposition activists from holding a group prayer in front of a church in Minsk on August 16, Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. The group gathered in front of the church to express solidarity with those enduring political persecution in the country. Police officers forced the demonstrators into a nearby passenger trolleybus, which brought them, along with other passengers, to the outskirts of the city. "We rode from the church to Bangalore Square. We were driven out of the trolleybus with all the others onboard. They tried to detain us. Now we are being followed by KGB officers. Riot policemen beat girls and older woman who did not participate in the [protest] action at all," opposition activist Zmitser Fedaruk told RFE/RL by the telephone immediately after the police intervention. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/08/3-cee/cee-170807.asp