Thousands rally in Minsk as hackers leak police data
10 held; videos shared by media show security forces in helmets or masks hauling protesters off the streets; Belarus to channel $330m of its new loan to cover its outstanding debt to Gazprom: Russia
Tens of thousands of people marched through Minsk on Sunday chanting “go away” on the sixth straight weekend of protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, keeping up the pressure on the veteran Belarusian leader to quit.
At least 10 people were detained, Russia’s TASS news agency quoted police as saying.
Videos shared by local media outlets showed security forces in helmets or masks hauling protesters off the streets.
In tandem with the protests, anonymous hackers leaked the personal data of 1,000 police officers in retaliation for a crackdown in which thousands of people have been detained, many complaining of beatings and torture in jail.
“As the arrests continue, we will continue to publish data on a massive scale,” said a statement that was distributed by the opposition news channel Nexta Live on the messaging app Telegram. “No one will remain anonymous even under a balaclava.” The government said it would find and punish those responsible for leaking the data, which was widely distributed on Telegram channels on Saturday evening.
“The forces, means and technologies at the disposal of the internal affairs bodies make it possible to identify and prosecute the overwhelming majority of those guilty of leaking personal data on the Internet,” said Olga Chemodanova, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The government said 390 women were detained for taking part in a protest on Saturday. Most have been released.
Belarus will channel about $330 million of its new loan to cover its outstanding debt to Russian gas giant Gazprom, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was quoted by TASS as saying.
Nina Bahinskaya, a 73-year-old former geologist has become one of the most recognisable faces of Belarus protests, fearlessly waving a huge red-and-white opposition flag in front of riot police.
On more than 100 occasions, the police seized the flag from her, but every time she would make a new one.
When police told her that she was violating a ban on unauthorised demonstrations, she responded by saying “I’m taking a walk” - the snappy reply now chanted by thousands of participants in daily protests.
A selfie with Bahinskaya has become a popular rite for many young protesters.
“I noticed that the riot police more rarely beat protesters when they see elderly people among them,” she said.
“So I come out to protest as a defender, an observer and a witness. I’m psychologically and intellectually stronger than the police. Even among those who detained me, there were people who respected me.” Mikhail Batsyan, a 69-year-old former diplomat took part in opposition protests long before last month’s vote.
His daughter fled the country to Ukraine with her boyfriend ater they were beaten by police in the first days ater the election, but Batsyan continued to atend demonstrations together with his wife.
“Now we atend the marches together,” Batsyan said. “Our dream is to live in a free Belarus at least for a while. I have seen a lot in my life, I don’t fear anything anymore and I can’t look at what’s going on with indifference.” Tamara Ruzhenkova, a 66-year-old former cello teacher at a musical school, sees the regular protests as a “breath of fresh air.” She denounced Lukashenko’s description of protesters as “drug addicts,” noting that his speeches demonstrate a “complete lack of culture.” “I don’t want that president. I have no respect for him and feel shame” for what he says and how he says it, she said.
Vital Ravinski, a 75-year-old pathologist, attended some protests with his daughter and a granddaughter.
“I come out to protest so that my children and grandchildren have a good life,” he said. “By joining the protests, I show that everyone can do it without any fear.” Larisa Koval, a 68-year-old former sales expert said she had litle interest in politics before signing up to work as an observer during the Aug. 9 election and witnessing vote-rigging.
“The way election officials treated us was disgusting and it made me angry,” she said. “I can’t accept such massive lies. Lukashenko has lost his mind, dignity and conscience, he’s trying to cheat the entire nation.”