Over 180 people detained at protests in Belarus on Sunday - rights activists

MINSK. Feb 27 (Interfax) - More than 180 people were detained during protests, including those held outside polling stations where voting in the constitutional referendum took place, in Belarus on Sunday, the unregistered human rights center Viasna said in a statement.

"Human rights activists know the names of 182 people who were detained in Belarus today," Viasna said.

According to Viasna, such detentions were made in Minsk, Grodno, Gomel, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Baranovichi, Lida, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Zhodino, Svetlogorsk, Zaslavl, Bobruisk, and Dokshitsy.

The opposition called on opponents of the Belarusian authorities to gather outside polling stations on Sunday and to express their protest over the situation in Ukraine.

The opposition also urged its supporters to join a protest near the headquarters of the Belarusian General Staff. According to eyewitnesses, demonstrators were dispersed by law enforcers.

Voting in the Belarusian referendum wrapped up at 8:00 p.m. The referendum has already been recognized as valid, as more than 50% of the country's eligible voters took part in it. According to the latest updates from the Belarusian Central Elections Commission, voter turnout at the referendum stood at 78.61%.