Rejecting Fear, Dozens Of Young Belarusians Assemble In Minsk Central Square To Quietly Protest Regime's Detention Of 1,000 Prisoners Of Conscience

MINSK, March 29 (RIA Novosti) - "The Belarusian opposition has gathered for a rally in the capital Minsk in support of fellow protesters arrested earlier, a RIA Novosti correspondent said Wednesday.

Dozens of young people came to the central square carrying lit candles in support of those detained after participating in unsanctioned rallies against the results of the March 19 presidential elections, which saw incumbent Alexander Lukashenko officially re-elected for a third term in a landslide triumph.

A total of 228 protesters were detained for 10 days, and 112 for 15 days under the country's Administrative Code. Fifty-three minors were released.

Belarusian Prosecutor General Petr Miklashevich said more than 500 people had been arrested in the week following the elections."

RIA NOVOSTI "Opposition rallies in support for arrested protesters in Minsk" March 29, 2006, 10:00 PM

RIA NOVOSTI via www.themoscowtimes.com/doc/HotNews.html#69601

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Also see Maria Danilova "Idealists form core of protest in Belarus" Associated Press via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer March 23, 2006

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/
1103AP_Belarus_Faces_of_Opposition.html













Minsk democratic protests are quietly continuing until the next large democratic and peaceful assembly on April 26, 2006; the 20th Aniversary of the Soviet Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station disaster, which gravely impacted Southeast Belarus, North Central Ukraine, and other regions in Russia and Europe.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev via seattlepi.nwsource.com With thanks.