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When Alexander Lukashenko’s press secretary asked where the president was, he responded by sending him a photo of Lukashenko with a vending machine. The last photo is said to have been taken on Sunday, August 30, at approximately 4 pm, when protesters arrived at the Independence Palace. However, there are no specific facts that the photo was taken on this particular day.
PHOTO GALLERY. Mass protests in Belarus (08.30)
Other channels report that the exact moment this photo was taken is still unclear. Radio Svoboda writes that the protesters at that time had not even gathered at the Independence Palace.
Updated 6:47 PM
Participants gathered in the center of Minsk for an unauthorized opposition “March for Peace and Independence” damaged a militia car, an official of the Belarusian Interior Ministry (MIA) Olga Čemodanova reported on her Telegram channel.
“On August 30, at approximately 2:40 pm (In Belarusian and Lithuanian times), a mob of people attacked and damaged a militia car near Independence Square in Minsk. Special transport and its former officials were instructed to ensure the protection of public order during unauthorized mass events, “said O. Čemodanova.
An official representative of the Ministry of the Interior stated that “the criminals smashed the windshield of the car with objects by hand, as well as damaged its sides.”
“Currently, three people have been arrested and taken to the unit of the Board of Internal Affairs of the Lenin District of the capital,” Cemodanova said.
His detainees include a football coach born in 1986 and a member of a famous football club fan movement born in 1993, and both men have been repeatedly administratively prosecuted.
“It is known that another person born in 1978 was convicted in the past and has also been repeatedly prosecuted. They are all residents of Minsk. One of the detainees was intoxicated with alcohol,” said O. Čemodanova.
“An inspection is being carried out, other people involved are being identified. A legal assessment will be made of the actions arrested, ”said the official representative of the Ministry of the Interior.
Updated at 5:06 pm
Due to participation in an unauthorized protest in Minsk on Sunday until 4 pm 125 people were detained in local time, a spokeswoman for the Belarusian Interior Ministry told Interfax.
“As of 4 pm in Minsk, 125 citizens have been detained in connection with administrative proceedings for participating in unauthorized mass events,” the spokeswoman said.
According to her, “the personnel of the internal affairs structures took the necessary measures to maintain order and guarantee public safety”, “special equipment and special measures were used”.
It was also reported that all metro stations operated on Minsk’s Independence Avenue, which was used by the opposition participants “March for Peace and Independence” on Sunday. According to an Interfax correspondent, the protesters withdrew from the avenue and headed for the booth “Minsk – the hero of the city” on the Avenue of Winners, where the main crowd of protesters gathers.
From there, thousands of people have already moved to the Palace of Independence, the residence of President Aliaksandr Lukashenko on the State Flag Square. The residence is guarded by two armored transporters.
Independent experts have previously estimated that more than 100,000 people are participating in the March for Peace and Independence. persons. There were a similar number of participants during a similar campaign last Sunday.
Meanwhile, all Minsk metro stations, which were closed on Sunday morning due to a massive protest in the city center, at 3 pm 50 min. they were reopened to passengers, the metro reported through its Telegram channel.
Updated 3:44 pm
Belarusian force officials began arresting protesters in central Minsk on Sunday, witnesses and local media reported.
According to local media reports, the participants of the “March for Peace and Independence” began to choose near the Hotel Minsk on Independence Avenue. However, six vans approached them to transport the detainees and the militia began detaining the people.
The Plaza de la Independencia itself was closed.
The arrests are carried out with protesters shouting “What a shame!” And car drivers passing by pressing audible signals.
The detainee transport vans quickly fill up with people and quickly leave the square.
A little later, a column of people shouting “This is our city!”, Left the Minsk Hotel for October Square.
According to the portal tut.by, a minibus stopped in front of the KGB building. People in civilian clothes tried to arrest several guys and were confused. The protesters demanded the release of the boys, started rocking the minibus and shouted “Let go of me!”
In addition, traffic on the avenue to the Plaza de Octubre is blocked.
The protesters shout: “Get out!”
Updated 1:55 pm
According to the correspondent for the Interfax news agency, residents of the sleeping districts of Minsk form columns at subway stations and then walk to the center of the capital. Protesters of all ages carry white and red banners and posters. Many people go with children.
The first groups of protesters have already reached the city center. Since the closure of the Plaza de la Independencia, people have concentrated on the avenue of the same name and on the adjacent streets. Columns of protesters occupy the sidewalks along the avenue.
According to local media, a support column and support team from the Minsk Tractor Plant (MTZ) with flags and songs walks towards Partizanų Avenue towards the center. People shout “Long live Belarus!”, They are pointed out by car drivers. The column consists of several hundred people.
A column with flags marched from a neighborhood, the portal tut.by reported.
According to Nasha Niva, a group of activists is gathering at the Uschod metro station, intending to go downtown later, and tut.by announced that people are also gathering on Dzerzhinsky avenue, near the metro station. Michalova, where “Long live Belarus!” .
At that point, Independence Avenue drove into the plaza with a black pickup truck with no registration numbers, green and red with state flags.
The security measures around the Plaza de la Independencia have been reinforced, with the use of large militias.
Witnesses report that more and more OMON trucks are driving on the surrounding streets.
The security of the presidential administration has also been strengthened.
We recall that Lukashenko was also armed during the protests last Sunday:
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