Belarusian Police Arrest Demonstrators

Police escorting Kazulin supporters away from a demonstration in Minsk on December 10 (Bymedia.net) MINSK, December 10, 2006 -- Police in Belarus today detained about 20 opposition supporters who staged a protest in the capital, Minsk, according to RFE/RL's Belarus Service.

The rally was a demonstration of support for Alyaksandr Kazulin, who challenged longtime incumbent President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in a recent election and is now serving a 5 1/2-year prison term for organizing banned demonstrations.

Belarusian authorities routinely stifle dissent, and critics accuse officials of jailing political opponents of the administration on trumped-up or arcane charges.