Viasna reports some 245 people arrested during weekend protests in Belarus

These arrests come two days after at least 176 people were arrested during protests on Freedom Day on March 25. Harsh crackdowns by the police and cold winter slowed down the pro-democracy movement, which emerged with mass civil resistance to the results of the election in August, where Belarus’ President of 26 years, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, claimed victory. The opposition to the President resurges, with Telegram channel Nexta announcing: “We’re back to the streets”. The protestors opt for new tactics and gather in small groups to avoid large-scale police violence.