On December 31, the Belarusian security forces will cordon off all the places of mass New Year’s festivities in Minsk around the perimeter and install them at the entrances of the checkpoint to inspect tourists. The portal Tut.by writes about this citing GUVD Minsk City Executive Committee.
So, the department asked citizens on New Year’s Eve to refrain from disturbing public order and to be vigilant for possible provocations. Residents of Minsk will be prohibited from bringing any pyrotechnics and drinks in glass containers to places of mass celebrations. Traffic in the center of the Belarusian capital will be closed on the night of December 31 to January 1.
The city authorities also asked all holidaymakers to arrive at the celebration sites in advance in order to exclude large crowds at the checkpoint. Reinforced police and riot police units will be on duty in the areas of the festivities. Belarusians with protest symbols were threatened to detain.
In Belarus, for the fifth month, mass protests continue after the presidential elections on August 9. Protest actions are harshly suppressed by the security forces. Tens of thousands of people were detained, many of them told about torture and beatings in isolation wards. It is known about those killed by the protesters.