Belarusian opposition protests Zapad 2017 exercise in Minsk
MINSK. Sept 8 (Interfax-AVN) - An unauthorized opposition rally against the Zapad 2017 joint Belarusian-Russian exercise in Belarus is taking place in the center of the Belarusian capital on Friday.
The rally was initiated by opposition politician and 2010 presidential candidate Nikolai Statkevich.
Around 150-200 protestors have gathered in Oktyabrskaya Square in central Minsk. They are protesting the holding of the Zapad 2017 exercise in their country. The demonstrators are carrying white-red-white tricolors - the Belarusian national flag in 1991-1995, which has become an opposition symbol. They are chanting the slogan "Long Live Belarus!" The organizers have brought loudspeakers and are playing music.
The police are not interfering with the rally.
The Russia-Belarus Zapad 2017 maneuvers will be held on September 14-20.