Belarus police detain protesters, journalists amid protests

MINSK, Belarus – A Belarusian human rights group says more than 30 activists along with a dozen journalists have been detained by police amid protests in four cities.

Sunday’s protests in Orsha, Babruysk, Brest and Rahachow were the latest in an unusual wave of demonstrations that have occurred for weeks in the authoritarian country, focusing on a law that fines unemployed people $250 if they don’t register with state labour exchanges.

Although President Alexander Lukashenko suspended implementation of the law last week, protests have continued and include calls for the resignation of Lukashenko, who has ruled since 1994.

The human rights centre Vesna reported the detentions in Orsha, where the day’s largest protest attracted about 1,000 people.