Several people detained in May Day protests across Belarus

At least 15 people were detained by the police before and after yesterday’s protests held across Belarus, including opposition leaders Mikalai Statkevich and Pavel Seviarynets.

Statkevich was sentenced to 5 days of administrative detention after he announced a protest in Minsk, despite a ban issued by the city authorities.

Opposition activists Pavel Seviarynets and Maksim Viniarski were detained after speaking at an illegal protest staged last afternoon in Minsk’s Kastryčnickaja Square. The demonstration was attended by several hundred people.

Six protesters will stand trial after protesting in Brest. They were reportedly holding blank sheets of paper.

Three activists were detained in Baranavičy.

Several people were detained in Homieĺ, including Belsat reporters Yauhen Merkis and Larysa Shchyrakova. Both were charged with administrative offences and are expected to stand trials in the near future.

At least two activists were briefly detained in Slonim, where a protest against ‘parasite tax’ was scheduled on May 1. Both were released without charges.