拘束中の反政権派活動家の解放要求、ベラルーシで大規模デモ

【ミンスクＡＦＰ＝時事】ベラルーシ首都ミンスクで4日、拘束されている反政権派活動家らの解放を求めるデモが行われ、数万人が参加した。警察は参加者らを解散させるため、放水砲を使用した。（写真は拘束された反政権派活動家の解放を求めるデモがベラルーシ首都ミンスクで行われ、参加者に放水砲を使用する警察）
　ベラルーシ政府はデモに先立ち、アレクサンドル・ルカシェンコ大統領への抗議集会に関する報道の妨害を画策。すべての外国ジャーナリストの取材許可を取り消した。
　また４日には、インターネットと携帯電話が不通になった。
　だが、ソーシャルメディアに投稿された写真や動画には、逮捕される恐れがあるにもかかわらず多くの人がミンスクに集まり、留置所に向かってデモ行進する姿が捉えられていた。警察による暴力の被害者らの写真や反体制を示す紅白の旗を掲げたり、太鼓を鳴らしたりする参加者もいた。
　大統領選後からルカシェンコ大統領の退陣を求める大規模デモが続いており、当局の取り締まりで複数の死者が出ている。ミンスクの留置所での虐待が報告されており、多くの人が拷問や物理的暴力、屈辱を受けたと証言している。
　人権団体「ビアスナ人権センター」によると、ミンスクなどで行われた抗議デモで１００人超が拘束された。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/10/06-13:00）

Belarusian police on Sunday used water cannon to disperse protesters in the capital Minsk as tens of thousands marched to demand the release of political prisoners.
Demonstrators took to the streets despite warnings they could face prison and dedicated their latest march -- which came after Brussels and Washington introduced sanctions against some Belarusian officials -- to the plight of dozens of political prisoners.
Ahead of the march, the government sought to complicate media coverage of opposition rallies against strongman Alexander Lukashenko's regime, withdrawing the accreditation of all foreign journalists.
On Sunday, internet and cell phone services were disrupted.
But pictures and videos posted on social media showed huge crowds gathering in Minsk and protesters marching towards a detention centre, with some carrying portraits of victims of police abuse.
Other protesters waved red-and-wite opposition flags and beat drums.
Set them free! demonstrators chanted after they reached the notorious jail on Okrestin Street which some have dubbed a torture chamber.
The opposition movement calling for an end to strongman Lukashenko's rule has kept up a series of large-scale demonstrations since his controversial election win on August 9, with 100,000 people or more taking to the streets every Sunday.
Since the start of the post-election crackdown in which several people have died, harrowing accounts have emerged of abuse in the Minsk jail. Many said they had been tortured, beaten and humiliated there.
After the march had begun in the centre of the capital, police confirmed they had moved in on the protest, which like others was considered an illegal gathering.
Interior ministry spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova told AFP that water cannon had been used in Minsk and that there had been detentions, but provided no further details.
- 'Terrible screams' -
Rights group Viasna said more than 100 demonstrators were detained in Minsk and elsewhere.
Protester Natalia Samotyia said she saw police beat up protesters.
I stood on a bridge and heard people's terrible screams, she told AFP.
Another protester, Yakov Baranovsky, said police blasted him and another demonstrators with water cannon, forcing them to seek shelter.
Everything has been done to make people disperse, the 51-year-old engineer said.
Belarusians this week received official text messages saying they could face criminal responsibility for taking part in unsanctioned rallies.
Do not make a mistake! the interior ministry said.
Ahead of the rally, the Nexta Live opposition Telegram channel, which has coordinated protesters and has more than two million subscribers, urged Belarusians to march towards the Minsk jail in support of political prisoners.
These are people who have suffered for their convictions -- and are still suffering, Lukashenko's election rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said ahead of the protest. Our task is to set them free.
According to Viasna, there are now 77 political prisoners in Belarus including Tikhanovskaya's husband and opposition blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky, who was not allowed to run for president, and senior opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, who ripped up her passport to prevent authorities from deporting her.
Also on the list is Belarusian-US strategist Vitali Shkliarov, who worked on US Senator Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign and advised the Russian opposition.
- Sanctions, counter-sanctions -
Russia has backed its longstanding ally Lukashenko, offering financial backing and promising military support if events turn against him.
On Friday, the United States and the European Union hit Belarus with long-awaited sanctions for rigging the vote and orchestrating the crackdown on protesters, targeting key officials -- but not Lukashenko himself.
Minsk swiftly announced tit-for-tat counter sanctions against the EU, although it was not clear what form these would take or what or who they would target.
Tikhanovskaya ran in place of her jailed husband and claimed victory over Lukashenko.
After taking shelter in EU member Lithuania, the 38-year-old political novice has been engaged in a diplomatic push to drum up support for the embattled Belarusian opposition.
She has met French President Emmanuel Macron and will travel to Germany for a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday.
Lukashenko, who has ruled ex-Soviet Belarus for 26 years, has accused Western countries and NATO of supporting protesters and trying to destabilise the country of 9.5 million.