Hundreds of protesters gathered around the Okrestina detention centre during a mass rally that was held in the capital of Minsk on Sunday.

Footage filmed on around the detention centre shows protesters shouting “let them out,” as some of the detained protesters reported to be held in the centre.

Other footage from Victors Avenue shows police using water cannons to disperse thousands of demonstrators, which after several protesters were arrested during the rally. 

Belarus has been swept by anti-government protests following the disputed presidential election of August 9 that saw incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko re-elected for a sixth term. 

On August 19 the European Union announced sanctions against "a substantial number of individuals responsible for violence, repression, and election fraud" in Belarus. 

European Union and the USA imposed sanctions against a number of Belarusian officials who were allegedly accused of vote-rigging and political repression.