Russian citizens Artem Vazhenkov and Igor Rogov are being held in the status of suspects in the case of mass riots in Minsk, BelTA reports with reference to the Investigative Committee of Belarus on Wednesday, August 12.
It is noted that the Russians were detained in Minsk near the Riga supermarket with signs of alcoholic intoxication.
“At the moment they are in the status of suspects in a criminal case initiated by the USC in Minsk on the basis of Article 293 of Part 2 of the Criminal Code (Participation in Mass Riots),” the Belarusian Investigative Committee said in a statement.
Earlier, the agency published a video with people detained in Belarus, whom it called “provocateurs” of the riots in Minsk, two out of four claim that they are from Russia.
The Open Russia organization stated in its Telegram channel that it identified its employees, Vazhenkov and Rogov, on this recording. Later it was reported that Rogov was released.
Mass protests have been taking place in Belarus since August 9, on that day, presidential elections were held in the country. The current head of state Alexander Lukashenko, according to the CEC, received 80.08% of the vote, opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was supported by 10.09% of voters. Tikhanovskaya’s headquarters did not recognize the results of the vote.
After that, people who disagreed with the election results began to take to the streets. They are opposed by the security forces. In the clashes, there are casualties on both sides.