Belarus: 345 detained during anti-government protests

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - A total of 345 people were detained during anti-government protests in Minsk, the Belarusian capital on Sunday, the country's Interior Ministry said on Monday.

The demonstrators marched in the streets, burnt automobile tires, and made false calls about barring railroads, spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova said in a post on her Telegram channel.

"A total of 345 people were placed in detention facilities yesterday for violating the law on mass events and are awaiting the court order," she said.

People were placed in detention where they are supposed to stay until the court decides their fate.

Belarus has been rocked by mass protests since President Alexander Lukashenko was re-elected to a sixth term on Aug. 9.

Both the US and EU have rejected the presidential election, and imposed sanctions against top Belarusian officials for their role in vote manipulation and crackdown on protesters.