Minsk, April 26 (Interfax) - Members of the Belarusian opposition are staging a rally called "Charnobylski Shlyakh" (The Chornobyl Path) in Minsk on April 26 to mark the 24th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster.
More than 400 people have gathered outside the building of the National Academy of Sciences in Minsk, an Interfax correspondent reported, citing police sources.
Speaking just before the start of the event, co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democratic Party Vitaly Rimashevsky announced the creation of a civil initiative "to protect Belarusians from extinction."
The Charnobylski Shlyakh participants then headed towards Bangalore Square, accompanied by riot police officers.
The demonstrators are holding the European Union flags and white-red-white flags. They brought a scarecrow which they said symbolizes Chornobyl.
Meanwhile, Alexander Savelyev of the Russian Oborona ("Defense") youth socio-political movement said his colleagues were detained by Belarusian law enforcers.
"My friends from the Oborona movement were detained by riot police officers right on the street. I do not know where they are now," he said.
Law enforcement authorities were not immediately available for comment on the claim by the Russian youth movement member.
