Protests in Belarus: what happens in the country on September 12

Photo: protests in Belarus (tut.by)

For the thirty-fifth day in a row, massive protests have taken place in Belarus demanding new presidential elections. Read about what is happening today in Minsk and other cities of the country in the RBK-Ukraine material.

Grodno residents joined the protests

In Grodno, about 30 girls gathered near the Neman shopping center on Sovetskaya Street. The protesters sing songs and sing “Plant trees, not people.”

Law enforcement officers approached the girls and warned them that it was supposedly illegal to hold a protest action here, after which they went to a car parked nearby.

Scattered rally in Svoboda square in Minsk

Belarusian security forces dispersed a protest rally in Freedom Square in the country’s capital. About 20 minutes after the arrests began, there were almost no protesters left in Freedom Square. The protesters went to cafes and shops to mingle with the crowd.

The arrests began in Minsk

At Svoboda Square in Minsk, the security forces began detaining women who had come here to participate in a women’s march. The arrests were made by unknown persons dressed in military uniforms and ski masks. It is not yet known how many protesters were detained.

Police vans left for the center of Minsk

Eyewitnesses post photos showing a convoy of rice wagons heading towards Freedom Square, where the women’s solidarity march will begin today.

March of women and solidarity chains

Today, in Minsk and other cities of Belarus, it is planned to hold women’s marches and solidarity chains in support of the protesters.

The protesters, as before, are demanding new transparent elections and punishment of all those involved in the violent dispersal of past protests, as well as the torture and murder of protesters.