Mass Detentions of Independence Day Rally Participants Occurring in Minsk Downtown

On 25 March special and ordinary police started detaining Independence Day rally near Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk.

Special police ringed the participants and used physical force to detain the rally participants. Many of the detained people were strongly beaten, say Human Rights Center Viasna observers.

The demonstration gradually went over to Svabody Square, where special police had recurrent fights with the rally participants. Around several tens of people were detained, according to the observers.

As of now the detained are taken to the District Department of Internal Affairs of Tsentralny Borough of Minsk.

The detained participants may well be kept in the special center of the District Department of Internal Affairs of Minsk City Executive Committee in Akrestsina Street before the courts start hearing the administrative cases on 28 March.