On Sunday, nearly 1,000 people were arrested for a peaceful rally prompted by the death of a protester. Mass demonstrations and objections in Belarus region are triggered by the results of elections in August, which was won by the permanent leader of Balarus, Alexander Lukashenko. According to the protester's point of view, the August elections were rigged and illegitimate. Since the beginning of the protests, this Sunday saw the most arrests. For 14 weeks the oppositionists have been demanding the resignation of the President of Belarus, who has been ruling the country for 26 years.
Last Thursday, a peaceful protestor died in the hospital after he had been horribly and mercilessly beaten by the Minsk police.
This Sunday, clubs, tear gas and water cannons were used against opponents of the current government to prevent a protest. Video footage made by the rally participants themselves shows how the police hit people and take them away in police cars.
The Association of Journalists of Belarus speaks of the retention of more than 23 newsmans who covered these events.
Former Belarusian presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya expressed condolences to the family of the deceased protester and urged to continue to go out to peaceful protests.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the actions of the Belarusian authority and called for freedom to the protesters and an end to violent suppression, as well as to choose the path of negotiations to end cruelty in the country.
The United States supports those who peacefully defend their right to ligitive elections, he said.