Belarusian Demonstrators Detained Outside Russian Embassy

Opposition demonstrators outside the Russian Embassy in Minsk on July 16 (RFE/RL) PRAGUE, July 17, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Belarusian authorities detained 30 to 40 demonstrators in Minsk yesterday as they attempted to stage a protest outside the Russian Embassy against Russia's support for Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Belapan reported that most of the demonstrators were arrested as they headed toward the embassy. Additional activists were arrested beside the building, according to the Belarusian news agency.

The unsanctioned demonstration came as Russia was hosting the summit of the Group of Eight industrialized nations in St. Petersburg from 15-17 July.

Missing Remembered

The activists reportedly also intended to show their support for opposition figures who have disappeared during Lukashenka's rule. For nearly a year, opposition activists have marked those disappearances on the 16 day of the month. Viktar Ganchar, who was deputy chairman of the de jure Belarusian parliament, and his businessman friend Anatol Krasovsky disappeared on September 16, 1999.

In addition, yesterday's protest followed last week's sentencing of former Belarusian presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin to 5 1/2 years in prison on charges of hooliganism and disorderly conduct.

Leader Detained

United Civic Party head Anatol Lyabedzka was among those detained yesterday. He reportedly called his wife last evening to inform her of his detention, but there has been no further contact.

(AFP, Reuters, Belapan)