The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus informed that the police had not used tear gas to disperse the rally at Bruzhi border crossing in Hrodna voblast. "An unidentified person applied tear gas. As a result, a police officer and one of the participants in an unsanctioned event were delivered to health care units with eyes' chemical burns," said the Interior Ministry.
As noted in the department, about 200 people blocked the entry of vehicles at the crossing point. They demanded a meeting with representatives of the authorities to discuss the restrictions imposed on the goods and fuel export. In this regard, Chairman of Hrodna voblast executive committee Semen Shapiro, heads of the regional Department of Internal Affairs, KGB, prosecutor’s office and the customs service arrived and «explained the current economic situation in the country to all the present people, warned of illegality of their actions and demanded to stop the action.»
Despite this, protesters continued to block the crossing point, «complained about the adopted restrictions, using a rough foul language in their speech.» At 20:55 the police began to drive people away from the roadway, some of them openly resisted policemen.» Dispersal of the rally ended at 21:00.
Police detained 14 people, whose administrative cases will be submitted to the court. Those people became subjects for administrative reports under Article 23.4 (disobeying a lawful order or requirement of an official on duty) and Article 23.34 (a violation of the order of organization or holding of mass events or picketing) of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Belarus.
