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Ukrainian, Belarusian Soccer Fans Detained For Anti-Putin Chants


Police in Belarus have detained about 100 Ukrainian soccer fans after spectators at an international match chanted vulgar verses targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

About 30 Belarusian fans were also detained after the Euro2016 qualifying match between Belarus and Ukraine in the city of Barysau.

The majority of those detained were released later, but 12 Ukrainians were found guilty of hooliganism and jailed for five to 10 days, and 12 Belarusians were fined, on October 10.

The incident came the day before Putin's arrival in the Belarussian capital on October 10 for a meeting of leaders from the Russian-led Commonwealth of Independence States.

The anti-Putin chant has become a rallying cry for Ukrainians angered by Russian interference in their ex-Soviet state this year, since the ousting of a Kremlin-backed president and Kyiv's embrace of the West.

Based on reporting by AFP, "Nasha Niva" and football.ua

Based on reporting by AFP, "Nasha Niva" and football.ua

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