Protesters detained in Belarus following demonstrations

Over 100 people appeared in court on 27 March 2017 in Belarus over protests against the country's President, with dozens of them jailed, including journalists.

Scores of people turned up for a protest in the capital, the latest in a series of rallied against a new tax on people working less than six months a year. The government had not sanctioned the rally, with riot police filling the city centre in full force.

The European Commission called for all detained protesters to be 'immediately released'. Most EU sanctions against Belarus were lifted in 2016 due to improving relations between the two sides.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: A series of social protests in Belarus http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-series-of-social-protests-in-belarus/

EurActiv, 23.03.17: Belarus arrests opposition activists after rallies http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/belarus-arrests-opposition-activists-after-rallies/

EurActiv, 28.03.17: [Opinion] Now is not the time to isolate Belarus https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/opinion/now-is-not-the-time-to-isolate-belarus/

Human Rights Watch: News, 28.03.17: Belarus: Opposition Figure Jailed, Beaten https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/03/28/belarus-opposition-figure-jailed-beaten

The Guardian, 25.03.17: Riot police in Belarus attack protesters calling for end to ‘dictatorship’ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/25/belarus-lukashenko-protesters-riot-police-attack-minsk

BBC News, 26.03.17: Belarus protests: Government defends mass arrests http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39399953

BBC News, 25.03.17: Belarus protests: Hundreds arrested after defying ban http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39393351

Amnesty International: News, 25.03.17: Belarus: Vicious crackdown on peaceful protests mars ‘Freedom Day’ https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/03/belarus-vicious-crackdown-on-peaceful-protests-mars-freedom-day/

France24, 25.03.17: Scores arrested as protestors defy ban to march in Belarus http://www.france24.com/en/20170325-belarus-minsk-police-mass-arrests-protesters-banned-demonstration-lukashenko

Euronews, 25.03.17: Belarus protest turns violent as hundreds arrested http://www.euronews.com/2017/03/25/belarus-protest-turns-violent-as-hundreds-arrested

Deutsche Welle, 25.03.17: Belarus cracks down on mounting protests http://dw.com/p/2ZwmP

Deutsche Welle, 27.03.17: Belarusian opposition vows to fight on amid clampdown http://dw.com/p/2Zzkr

Sputnik International, 26.03.17: US Demands Immediate Release of Detained Belarusian Activists It Helped Fund http://sptnkne.ws/dU5U

TASS, 24.03.17: Belarus to stamp on any conflict unleashed as in Ukraine, president says http://tass.com/world/937435

Deutsche Welle, 23.03.17: Belarus arrests dozens in crackdown, claims weapons found http://dw.com/p/2ZrY2

TASS, 25.03.17: Opposition leader Vladimir Neklyayev detained in Belarus http://tass.com/world/937485

EUObserver, 30.03.17: MEPs call for reset in relations with Belarus https://euobserver.com/foreign/137432

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 29.03.17: What to Know About the Protests in Belarus https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/what-know-about-protests-Belarus

Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2017: Will the protests bring change to Belarus? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/177145/will-the-protests-bring-change-to-belarus

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