Ukrainian flags in Minsk painted over with brown paint

The Belarusian authorities struggle against signs of solidarity with the Ukrainians.

Ukrainian flags were painted at night on trees near the statue of Taras Shevchenko in Shevchenko Boulevard in Minsk. Blue and yellow stripes were painted as a sign of protest against the occupation of Crimea. Former political prisoner Siarei Martseleu writes on Facebook that the flags were painted over with brown paint by lunchtime. “Supporters of the 'brown plague' appeared in Minsk's Tsentralny district,” Siarhei Martseleu writes.