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New series of «silent» protests in Belarus

More than 350 people were arrested by police during a fresh series of "silent" anti-government protests staged across Belarus on July 6, with over 190 people being arrested in Minsk alone, according to human rights defenders, BelaPAN said.

After about 390 people were arrested on Independence Day (July 3), online coordinators of the "Revolution through Social Networks" campaign announced that the "silent" protests would continue every Wednesday. They changed the initial format of protests in Minsk, calling on residents to gather on Wednesday evening not in downtown Kastrychnitskaya Square but in a certain place in each of the city`s nine districts. Such places included areas near the National Library, the Palace of Sports and People`s Friendship Park adjacent to Bangalore Square.

The campaign coordinators called on potential protesters to walk around, talk to each other and clap hands only when there is no risk of being "grabbed and dragged away somewhere."

There was a heavy police presence in Kastrychnitskaya Square despite the absence of any protesters. Although the square was not sealed off by metal railings, as had been done on previous Wednesdays to keep protesters away, police officers in uniform and in civilian clothes were patrolling it in large numbers. Buses passed the square without stopping.

Plainclothesmen were telling passers-by not to stand in front of stores or gather in groups of more than three.

Soon after the beginning of the protest near the National Library, in the Pershamayski district, plainclothesmen grabbed more than 10 people, including journalist Aleh Hruzdzilovich. He was bundled into a vehicle together with three young men and a young woman even though he produced his press card. Another protester, who had arrived at the library on a bicycle, was beaten up and shoved into a vehicle. His bicycle was carried away.

Several dozen people gathered near the Belarus department store, stood there silently for some time and then began clapping. Police responded by grabbing about up to 20 people, including prominent opposition activist Maksim Vinyarski, and also journalist Ales Dashchynski.

About 200 people gathered near the ice hockey arena on Prytytskaha Street, defying threats by several dozen men in civilian clothes that force might be used against them and responding with applause to drivers honking their horns. Plainclothesmen waded into the crowd after several rounds of applause, grabbing people at random and dragging them away. A film crew of Russia`s television network NTV and journalists Yahor Martsinovich and Anton Matolka were arrested during the crackdown.

Some 90 people, mostly young people and families with small children, gathered for a protest near the Tytan shopping and entertainment complex on Gazety Pravda Avenue in the Maskowski district. Police officers kept warning for some time that the gathering was unsanctioned. Nevertheless, the crowd did not disperse even after a police bus arrived and several people were thrust into it. The bus left the scene to the applause of bystanders. A brutal crackdown eventually ensued, with policemen making numerous arrests and chasing even after those who took shelter in the nearby Valhahrad food store.

The protest in People`s Friendship Park began with at least four people being grabbed by plainclothesmen. The men ignored demands to identify themselves, while uniformed policemen refused to intervene. Despite the threat of new arrests, nearly 100 people took part in the protest.

About 120 people assembled near the Hippo hypermarket at about 8 p.m. Meanwhile, shoppers were allowed to leave the store only through back doors, under the pretext that "bomb disposal experts" were at work in the area. About 10 people were pulled out of the crowd by plainclothesmen and bundled into awaiting buses.

As many as 23 people were arrested in Babruysk, Mahilyow region. They were taken to the city police department and charged with acting in violation of regulations governing mass events.

A silent protest in Mahilyow drew more than 200 people. They clapped their hands and got into verbal altercations with senior police officers. Passing drivers showed solidarity with the protesters by honking their horns. Russian rock singer Viktor Tsoi’s famous perestroika-era song called “Change!” could be heard from inside some cars. At least eight people were arrested.

Earlier in the day, police raided the home of Mahilyow journalist Ales Asiptsow and drove him to a district police station in connection with the July 3 silent protest in the city.

Some 400 people took part in a silent protest in Brest. They walked in a procession along a central street, clapping their hands from time to time. Police warned through megaphones that the demonstration was unsanctioned.

Viktar Klimus, chairman of the Brest regional organization of the Belarusian Popular Front, was arrested shortly before the protest. At least eight people were arrested during the event.

A silent protest in Hrodna drew about 300 people. Dozens of them were grabbed by police.

A hand-clapping crowd reportedly walked through a downtown area in Vitsyebsk.

About 100 showed up for a silent protest in Pinsk, Brest region.

At least eight protesters, including Uladzimir Malyarchuk, chairman of the Minsk regional organization of the United Civic Party, were arrested in Vileyka, a city of 30,000 residents in the Minsk region.

In Barysaw, police grabbed a young man, his wife and their two-year-old son.

Silent protests also took place in Homyel, Baranavichy, Slutsk, Salihorsk, Malaryta and other cities.