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Crisis in Belarus

Updated at:

140 protesters detained in Minsk on Sunday

The Belarusian interior ministry spokeswoman, Olga Chemodanova said the situation calmed down

© Sergey Bobylev/TASS

MINSK, August 30. /TASS/. As many as 140 protesters were detained in Minsk on Sunday, the Belarusian interior ministry spokeswoman, Olga Chemodanova, told TASS.

"As of now, the number of those detained went up to 140. The people were detained within the administrative process," she said, adding that the protesters were detained during an unauthorized rally.

By Sunday evening, in her words, the situation calmed down. "The situation is much quieter, with less people in the streets. It is under control," she said.

Earlier, several dozens of demonstrators were reportedly detained in central Minsk. Thousands of protesters were blocked in the central Independence Avenue. Police however let go women and asked them to go away. Later, the demonstrators marched down the Independence Avenue to the Victory Park and the Hero City Minsk monument and further on to the Independence Palace, or the Belarusian president’s residence. By now, most of the protesters went away.

On August 9, Belarus held its sixth presidential election since declaring independence in 1991. According to the final results of Sunday’s voting, the incumbent president, Alexander Lukashenko, won 80.10% of the vote. His closest rival, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, scored 10.12% of votes but refused to recognize the voting outcome. She soon left Belarus for Lithuania

Mass protests and clashes with police took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities after exit poll results were made public. As a result, some 7,000 people were detained, dozens of law enforcers and demonstrators were injured during the first days of protests. The authorities demand illegal rallies be stopped, while the Coordination Council set up by the opposition calls for further protests.

Mass protests and clashes with police took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities after exit poll results were made public. As a result, some 7,000 people were detained, dozens of law enforcers and demonstrators were injured during the first days of protests. The authorities demand illegal rallies be stopped, while the Coordination Council set up by the opposition calls for further protests.

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