240 detained in Sunday March of Partisans
Riot police detain protesters in Minsk on October 18, 2020
At least 242 people were detained at yesterday’s series of protests, jointly named the March of Partisans. The demonstrations were held in a dozen Belarusian cities on Day 71 of post-election protests.
Most were detained in Minsk, before, during and after tens of thousands took to the streets to demand the resignation of Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
In an incident in Minsk, riot police fired rubber bullets at a crowd of protesters. The Interior Ministry’s spokespersons said the shots were fired in the air after protesters threw stones at the police. However, video footage released later during the day shows that the riot police were aiming at protesters.
Dozens were also detained in Salihorsk, Brest, Viciebsk and Homieĺ.
These include several journalists and Viasna human rights defender Alena Masliukova, who was detained in Svietlahorsk. Masluikova was later released without a charge.
Around 15 thousand people have been detained in protests since August 9.
