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Government-organized music show used to close off Kastrychnitskaya Square to "silent" protest

A government-organized concert featuring lip-synching pop singers was taking place in Kastrychnitskaya Square at 7 p.m. on June 28, the time when a weekly "silent" protest was to begin at the venue.

Authorities said that the event was being held to mark the end of university exams. Many in the crowd, though, were visibly too old to be students. Some were holding banners of the pro-government Belarusian National Youth Union and Belaya Rus association.

Most of the people in the crowd appeared to be having little interest in the show, although some were having fun. A total of roughly 2,000 people attended the show.

There was a heavy police presence in the square as authorities were preparing to crack down on anti-government protesters around the venue. //BelaPAN