MINSK, 10 August (BelTA) – Illegal protests staged on 9 August have resulted in 39 police casualties and over 50 civilian ones, BelTA learned from Press Secretary of the Belarusian Internal Affairs Ministry Olga Chemodanova.
According to the source, on the night of 9-10 August citizens congregated around polling stations and in central squares in 33 population centers across the country. About 3,000 people have been arrested for participation in unauthorized rallies. Clashes between protesters and police personnel have wounded over 50 citizens as well as 39 police officers, some of whom are now in hospital.
According to Olga Chemodanova, protesters lit flares, littered roads with nails and barbs, built barricades out of mobile ticket barriers, dismantled the pavement and chucked the paving stones at police personnel. A group of aggressive citizens used sharpened poles, rods, stones, and reinforcement bars to assault police personnel in Pinsk. Some citizens were hospitalized, they were in a state of intoxication. The spokeswoman noted the police had not employed lethal weapons.
The press service of the Healthcare Ministry added that medical aid had been provided in full to everyone in need. “No one has died! We would like to point out that reports to the contrary distributed by certain Internet media are nothing but fake news,” the source stated.
