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Three Russian journalists released after detention in Minsk

They will be home tomorrow

MOSCOW, August 10. /TASS/. Russian journalists Semyon Pegov (WarGonzo), Anton Starkov and Dmitry Lasenko (Daily Storm), who were detained in Minsk, have been released, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev said on Monday.

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Belarusian police actions against Russian reporters were disproportionate, says diplomat

"Indeed, our compatriots Anton Starkov, Dmitry Lasenko and Semyon Pegov have been released. It happened minutes ago," he told the Rossiya-24 television channel. "I would like to repeat I think they will be home tomorrow."

Alexei Maskalev, a spokesman for the Russian embassy, told TASS Russian diplomats were currently at the detention center to take the journalists from there. "They will soon leave for home. They feel all right," he said.

On Sunday, Belarus held its sixth presidential election since declaring independence in 1991. According to the country’s Central Election Commission, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won 80.08% of votes. His closest rival, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, scored 10.09% of votes. The other three candidates managed to win less that to percent each.

Mass protests and clashes with police took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities on Sunday night into Monday morning after exit poll results were made public.

On August 9, Vasily Polonsky and Vladimir Romensky, reporters of the Russian television channel Dozhd, and their cameraman Nikolai Antipov were detained in Minsk when covering the Belarusian elections. According to Zakharova, they had no accreditation. Meanwhile, Dozhd editor-in-chief Tikhon Dzyadko told TASS document for accreditation had been submitted back on June 15.

It was reported later that Daily Storm and Meduza journalists and defense correspondent Semyon Pegov had been detained on Sunday when the police were dispersing protests in Minsk.

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