MINSK. Aug 24 (Interfax) - The multi-thousand protest held in Minsk on Sunday ended without detentions.
The protest started near the House of Government on Independence Square at about 2 p.m. The media reported the turnout of 150,000 to 250,000, according to various sources. The rally, which took place near the Minsk Hero City obelisk on the previous Sunday, had approximately the same turnout.
Several hours later, a large group of protesters headed towards the obelisk, and the others marched towards Victory Square.
Army units were deployed near the obelisk, which was cordoned off with barbed wire. It seems that was done to prevent the protesters from again hoisting the white-red-white flag on the Motherland bronze sculpture next to the obelisk.
No provocations or conflicts were observed in the obelisk area.
Later one, some protesters marched along Victors Avenue towards the Independence Palace, the working residence of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Law enforcers blocked Victors Avenue near the Independence Palace - the cordons covered the entire width of the avenue. Rubezh attack complexes, which were used to disperse demonstrations on August 9-10, were seen on the avenue. The protesters stopped several dozens of meters away from the cordon; they were chanting "Leave" and "You are fired" and carrying flags and various signs.
Sometime later, the protests turned back and headed to the obelisk. Meanwhile, a helicopter, presumably carrying the Belarusian president, arrived at the Independence Palace.
The First Man's Pool Telegram channel close to the presidential press service released a video featuring Lukashenko disembarking from the helicopter, wearing a black bullet-proof jacket and all back clothes and carrying a weapon, which looked like a rifle but had no magazine.
The presidential press service said later that Lukashenko spent the whole day in the Independence Palace.
Belarusian Interior Ministry spokesperson Olga Chemodanova said that no detentions were made during the Minsk protest.