On Friday evening, dozens of participants in human chains, journalists and even bystanders were detained in Belarusian cities and towns.
According to human rights centre Viasna, at least 80 people were taken in Minsk police stations. Early in the morning, some of the detainees started to be released after conducting preventative conversations or drawing up protocols under Art. 23.34 (participation in unauthorised mass events). Among them were eight journalists, including Belsat photo reporter Iryna Arakhouskaya. All of them had to spend several hours in the company of policemen.
In Babruysk, the police detained about a dozen people, including three journalists, in Homiel – at least 9 (excluding preventive detainees), in Vitsebsk – at least 7, in Mahiliou – at least 6, in Navapolatsk – 3; there is at least one detainee in Maladzechna, Orsha, Slutsk and Hrodna.
Thus, by estimates of human rights defenders, more than 100 persons were detained throughout Belarus in the evening of June, 19.
