5 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Reports say Belarusian police today dispersed an opposition rally outside the Polish Embassy in Minsk, detaining five demonstrators.
Agence France Presse says the demonstration was organized by supporters of a Polish community association that Belarusian authorities accuse of fomenting revolution in the country.
The agency says the five detainees are activists of Belarus' opposition Youth Front who said they had come to express solidarity with the Union of Poles in Belarus and the Polish people.
Also today, a rival anti-Polish demonstration was organized by supporters of Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Relations between Minsk and Warsaw have deteriorated in the past few weeks, with Belarusian authorities accusing Poland of spearheading alleged U.S.-backed efforts to topple Lukashenka.
(AFP)
See also:
Belarus: Planning The Next Revolution?
Belarus Increases Pressure On Private Universities, Other Institutions
Expelled U.S. Academic Says Minsk In Anti-Western 'Cleanup'
The agency says the five detainees are activists of Belarus' opposition Youth Front who said they had come to express solidarity with the Union of Poles in Belarus and the Polish people.
Also today, a rival anti-Polish demonstration was organized by supporters of Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Relations between Minsk and Warsaw have deteriorated in the past few weeks, with Belarusian authorities accusing Poland of spearheading alleged U.S.-backed efforts to topple Lukashenka.
(AFP)
See also:
Belarus: Planning The Next Revolution?
Belarus Increases Pressure On Private Universities, Other Institutions
Expelled U.S. Academic Says Minsk In Anti-Western 'Cleanup'