MINSK, 11 August (BelTA) – Twenty-one police officers were injured during riots in Belarus, BelTA informs with reference to the Telegram-channel of the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Olga Chemodanova.
“On 10 August various internet resources posted calls on people to gather in the central parts of towns and cities for riots. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, within the purview of its competences, took necessary measures to protect law and order and ensure public safety. On the night of 10 and 11 August protests continued in several cities, the biggest ones in Minsk, Brest, Mogilev and Novopolotsk,” Olga Chemodanova said.
There were reports of open clashes with the police, numerous attacks on police officers and damage of transport vehicles. “As a result, 21 police officers and soldiers of the interior troops were injured, five of them hospitalized” Olga Chemodanova noted.
A group of people used smoke grenades and Molotov cocktails in Minsk. “In the Belarusian capital some motorists intentionally blocked the traffic and honked horns. Barricades were also made to block the street traffic,” Olga Chemodanova said.
In Minsk and Novopolotsk police officers and servicemen were forced to use riot weapons.
More than 2,000 people were detained across the country, including for the participation in riots. Legal evaluation will be given to other unlawful acts.
“The Healthcare Ministry will provide information about the number of people who were hospitalized and sought medical help in due course,” Olga Chemodanova said.
