"Critical Mass" Make Minsk Riot Police Scared

Cyclists of many countries conduct a mass ride "Critical Mass" in the last Friday of the month.

Thus, they try to draw attention of authorities and make them do something for bicycle riding. Such ride was planned for April 29, Nasha Niva reports.

Participants say first there were 35 of them, 10 people in plain clothes and four riot policemen near the Opera House.

The race began at 7.23 pm. Bicyclists reached stela at 7.42 pm, a van hog the road for the rest of the column. Riot policemen started to detain participants. Six of participants faced down the van and were beaten up. Then they were delivered to the Tsentralny RUVD. One of the participants was Kiryl Kazhenau - observer from the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.

Details of the incident are being investigated. The RUVD still does not provide with information.

According to civil right activists, there is a citizen of Russia Dmitry Pokhomov among the detained. Aliaksei Adamovich, Stas Baretski, Aliaksei Kruhlakou are also detained.

Minsk police yesterday released their own version with the "critical mass".

"This evening bicyclists (20-30 people) gathered together near the Opera and Ballet House in Minsk. Some of them had black-green flags.

Then it directed to the Great Patriotic War Museum at 7.20 pm. Near the stela the group of bicyclists violated the traffic rules. They ignored requirements to stop. Then they resisted the police. One of participants put up a fight with a traffic police officer and damaged his uniform.

Six initiators of the fight were detained and delivered to the Tsentralny RYVD of Minsk. Their actions are given a legal treatment.

It should be reminded that yesterday Minsk held an opening of a bicycle season "Viva, Rovar!" Some avenues were even blocked.