Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK527
2006-05-17 14:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
DEMONSTRATORS BRIEFLY DETAINED NEAR RUSSIAN EMBASSY
how-toVZCZCXRO8063 RR RUEHAST DE RUEHSK #0527 1371419 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 171419Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4416 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1150 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS MINSK 000527
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KIEV ALSO FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BO
SUBJECT: DEMONSTRATORS BRIEFLY DETAINED NEAR RUSSIAN EMBASSY
UNCLAS MINSK 000527
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KIEV ALSO FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BO
SUBJECT: DEMONSTRATORS BRIEFLY DETAINED NEAR RUSSIAN EMBASSY
1. (U) Approximately 70 people at 20:00 on May 16 gathered in front
of the Russian Embassy, which is adjacent to the U.S. Embassy,
wearing EU handkerchiefs and holding candles to protest the
Kremlin's support of President Lukashenko. Five minutes into the
demonstration, a dozen OMON riot police officers appeared and non-
violently divided the crowd and pushed the two halves in opposite
directions away from the Russian Embassy. The crowd dispersed,
only to regroup a block away from the Embassy, where they
encountered a police barricade that they could not penetrate. The
demonstrators lit candles and placed them at the OMON officers'
feet, followed by BKGB plainclothes officers who stomped out the
candles. OMON officers then surrounded the demonstrators and
arrested 18 of them, including three minors. None of those
arrested were charged and were released an hour later.
2. (SBU) Poloff on site witnessed the first dispersal of the
demonstration at 20:05 and was told that the police had permission
to arrest at will. OMON buses were located in various places
surrounding the demonstration site, but the OMON presence was
smaller than usual. BKGB and independent media presence was large
and both groups had their cameramen in the crowd. Photos of the
demonstration can be found on www.charter97.org.
KROL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KIEV ALSO FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BO
SUBJECT: DEMONSTRATORS BRIEFLY DETAINED NEAR RUSSIAN EMBASSY
1. (U) Approximately 70 people at 20:00 on May 16 gathered in front
of the Russian Embassy, which is adjacent to the U.S. Embassy,
wearing EU handkerchiefs and holding candles to protest the
Kremlin's support of President Lukashenko. Five minutes into the
demonstration, a dozen OMON riot police officers appeared and non-
violently divided the crowd and pushed the two halves in opposite
directions away from the Russian Embassy. The crowd dispersed,
only to regroup a block away from the Embassy, where they
encountered a police barricade that they could not penetrate. The
demonstrators lit candles and placed them at the OMON officers'
feet, followed by BKGB plainclothes officers who stomped out the
candles. OMON officers then surrounded the demonstrators and
arrested 18 of them, including three minors. None of those
arrested were charged and were released an hour later.
2. (SBU) Poloff on site witnessed the first dispersal of the
demonstration at 20:05 and was told that the police had permission
to arrest at will. OMON buses were located in various places
surrounding the demonstration site, but the OMON presence was
smaller than usual. BKGB and independent media presence was large
and both groups had their cameramen in the crowd. Photos of the
demonstration can be found on www.charter97.org.
KROL