Pepper gas was sprayed into the air near the riot police cordon outside the Palace of Independence in Minsk, where the residence of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is located. This was announced on September 6 by the Izvestia correspondent from the scene.
It is not yet known what caused the gas spraying and from whose side the special means was used. After that, the protesters stepped aside, then came close to the cordon. The gas was sprayed a second time.
Currently, paddy wagons and minibuses without license plates arrived at Lukashenka’s residence, and arrests began. Security officials have already detained 16 people. Riot police, soldiers of the Republic’s Internal Troops and intelligence officers in civilian clothes are working on the spot.
About a hundred soldiers of the Internal Troops left the residence of the President of Belarus.
Meanwhile, many participants in the thousands-strong unauthorized protest action left the territory near the residence of the President of Belarus. They went to the stele “Minsk – Hero City”. It remains one of the most popular gathering points for protesters.
On Sunday, another unauthorized protest action is taking place in Minsk, which has gathered 100 thousand participants. For security reasons, the authorities closed the central metro stations, mobile operators restricted access to the Internet.
Mass protests have not subsided in Belarus after the presidential elections were held in the country on August 9. According to the CEC, the incumbent head of state Alexander Lukashenko won 80.08% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was supported by 10.09% of voters.