MINSK. Nov 30 (Interfax) - Belarusian law enforcers used riot equipment, in particular, fired warning shots into the air, during the Sunday protest, Belarusian Interior Ministry spokesperson Olga Chemodanova said.
"Law enforcers had to use special means (a number of warning shots of stun rounds fired into the air and tear gas)," Chemodanova said on Telegram on Monday.
"Law enforcers tried to talk sense into the protesters for a long time and urged them to stop the illegal actions," Chemodanova said. "However, citizens continued to ignore the repeated lawful demands. In particular, they formed a chain, used foul language in regard to police officers, actively resisted their actions, shouted, and screamed," she said.
According to Chemodanova, groups of protesters gathered in various Minsk neighborhoods. The police repeatedly warned them against breaking mass event regulations and urged them to comply with traffic safety rules. "However, certain citizens ignored the demands of law enforcers, stepped onto the road, and blocked traffic. Some were aggressive and in a state of alcoholic intoxication. The most active breakers of public peace who resisted the police were detained, in particular, with the use of special means," Chemodanova said.
On November 29, the police took the "necessary measures to ensure order in the country and to provide public security in the areas of unsanctioned events," she said.
The calls of certain Telegram channels for joining the illegal actions did not gain public support and did not spread widely in regions of the republic except the capital, Chemodanova said. "The protest activity continues to decline," she said.