2017-03-25 19:33:00

Hundreds detained in Belarus protests


(Vatican Radio) Hundreds of people have reportedly been detained Saturday in Belarus where thousands defied a ban to protest against the policies of autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko. 

The demonstrations were among the most massive protests in a series of rallies that were sparked by a so-called "social parasites" tax on the under-employed. 

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos:


 
Riot police violently removed protesters in the Belarusian capital Minsk. Activists said as many as 400 people were detained for taking part in Freedom Day rallies.

Earlier a crowd had tried to march along Minsk's main avenue, but were blocked by a cordon of riot police wielding clubs and holding shields.

Protesters also took to the streets in other cities across this former Soviet nation. 

Saturday's demonstrations were the latest in a series of demonstrations against the policies of authoritarian President Lukashenko.

ACTIVISTS DETAINED

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee, a major advocacy group, also said that police raided the office of a human-rights organization detaining dozens of activists. 

Activists claimed that in the days preceding the latest demonstrations, more than 100 opposition supporters were sentenced to jail terms of three to 15 days. Prominent opposition figure Vladimir Neklayev reportedly was pulled off a train by police during the night while trying to travel 
to Minsk.

Belarus has seen weeks of sporadic protests. They were initially focused on President Lukahsnko's unpopular "anti-parasite" law that calls for a $250 tax on anyone who works less than six months a year, but doesn't register with the state labor exchange. 

Yet, the protests have broadened into general dissatisfaction with his rule, which some critics have called Europe's last dictatorship. In his 23 years as president, Lukashenko has stifled dissent and free media and retained much of the Soviet-style command economy.








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