03:52Hundreds of people hit the streets of Minsk for an unauthorised opposition rally on Tuesday in support of member of the Constitutional Council of the Belarusian opposition Maria Kolesnikova.
Footage shows hundreds of people gathering in the Belarusian capital streets with numerous white-red flags, after which security forces attempt to block the road in front of protesters, resulting in clashes.
Several demonstrators were arrested during the event as footage from the rally shows.
Kolosnikova's associate Pavel Latushko has said that Kolesnikova was forced to leave Belarus, adding that she tore up her passport at the border. Media reports say she was attempting to avoid deportation from her home country. An opposition representative and media reports say she had initially been kidnapped in Minsk.
Lukashenko earlier discussed the disappearance of Kolesnikova, stating that she had attempted to cross the Belarusian border into Ukraine with two other men. According to the Belarusian president, she and her group were detained on the Ukrainian side of the frontier.
Belarus has been swept by anti-government protests following the disputed presidential election that saw incumbent president Aleksander 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.
Belarus: Security forces detain several protesters at rally for Kolesnikova
Hundreds of people hit the streets of Minsk for an unauthorised opposition rally on Tuesday in support of member of the Constitutional Council of the Belarusian opposition Maria Kolesnikova.
Footage shows hundreds of people gathering in the Belarusian capital streets with numerous white-red flags, after which security forces attempt to block the road in front of protesters, resulting in clashes.
Several demonstrators were arrested during the event as footage from the rally shows.
Kolosnikova's associate Pavel Latushko has said that Kolesnikova was forced to leave Belarus, adding that she tore up her passport at the border. Media reports say she was attempting to avoid deportation from her home country. An opposition representative and media reports say she had initially been kidnapped in Minsk.
Lukashenko earlier discussed the disappearance of Kolesnikova, stating that she had attempted to cross the Belarusian border into Ukraine with two other men. According to the Belarusian president, she and her group were detained on the Ukrainian side of the frontier.
Belarus has been swept by anti-government protests following the disputed presidential election that saw incumbent president Aleksander 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.
Hundreds of people hit the streets of Minsk for an unauthorised opposition rally on Tuesday in support of member of the Constitutional Council of the Belarusian opposition Maria Kolesnikova.
Footage shows hundreds of people gathering in the Belarusian capital streets with numerous white-red flags, after which security forces attempt to block the road in front of protesters, resulting in clashes.
Several demonstrators were arrested during the event as footage from the rally shows.
Kolosnikova's associate Pavel Latushko has said that Kolesnikova was forced to leave Belarus, adding that she tore up her passport at the border. Media reports say she was attempting to avoid deportation from her home country. An opposition representative and media reports say she had initially been kidnapped in Minsk.
Lukashenko earlier discussed the disappearance of Kolesnikova, stating that she had attempted to cross the Belarusian border into Ukraine with two other men. According to the Belarusian president, she and her group were detained on the Ukrainian side of the frontier.
Belarus has been swept by anti-government protests following the disputed presidential election that saw incumbent president Aleksander 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.