Belarus opposition rallies in support of detained opposition members

Belarus opposition rallies in support of detained opposition members

2011-01-31 09:22:48 GMT+7 (ICT)

MINSK (BNO NEWS) -- Protesters held a candlelight vigil in downtown Mink on Sunday to demand the immediate release of opposition members who were detained in a post-election rally in December, RIA Novosti reported.

Police have so far detained seven protesters who were standing in front of the Belarusian security service (KGB) building.

More than 600 protesters including eleven Russians were detained during the post-election mass protests against the reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko on December 19. The opposition alleged vote rigging.

The majority of the detainees were released after 15 days, but some of them still remain in jail, including ex-presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov, who came second in the vote.

Belarusian ex-presidential candidate Vladimir Neklyaev and Irina Khalip, a journalist for the Belarusian Novaya Gazeta and wife of Sannikov, were released from jail on Saturday after six weeks. The couple will remain under house arrest.

The European Union and the United States have demanded the release of all anti-government activists.

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