E/CN.4/2001/66 page 39 159. Stanislau Kavalou was among the people alleged to have been detained by the police when leaving the demonstration and going towards the metro station. He was reportedly first taken to Minsk Saviecki DDIA and then, in the middle of the night, was thrown into the back of a police bus to be transferred to another place of detention. For three or four hours, he and the other detainees were allegedly cramped so tightly together that they could hardly breathe. On arrival, as he got off the bus, he was reportedly kicked and beaten with truncheons. He and other detainees were then allegedly placed against the wall with their arms and legs spread widely apart and the officers continued to beat them. 160. Volha Barjalaj was reportedly detained by police and taken to Piershamajski DDIA. He and 10 others are alleged to have been pushed and kicked into the back of a bus where they were forced to lie on top of each other. Reportedly, when the bus set off the police began to trample and beat the detainees. Once they arrived at Piershamakjska they were taken off the bus in small groups and allegedly stood against a wall, whereupon they were beaten with truncheons. 161. A large number of persons are said to have been arrested during an unsanctioned demonstration in Minsk on 25 March 2000, which coincided with the anniversary of the creation of the first Republic of Belarus in 1918, to protest against President Lukashenko. During the demonstration between 400-500 demonstrators were reportedly detained for several hours by the police. While around 200 detainees were reportedly held in a city sports hall, others were held at various police stations and detention centres. Most of the detainees were reportedly released between two and three hours later. A number of people have complained of being knocked to the ground, beaten with truncheons, kicked by police officers and verbally abused. In particular, Yury Belenki, the deputy chairman of the Conservative Christian Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, and his companions were reportedly attacked by a group of police officers on Yakub Kolas Square in Minsk. During the attack, Yuri Belenki was reportedly hit in the face with a truncheon, knocked to his feet and repeatedly punched and kicked. The relevant prosecutor’s office in Minsk has reportedly refused to investigate his allegations of police ill-treatment. Follow-up to previously transmitted communications 162. By letter dated 10 February 2000, the Government responded to the cases transmitted by the Special Rapporteur in November 1999 (E/CN.4/2000/9, paras. 127-131). 163. Concerning Vyacheslav Vadimovich Sivchyk, the executive secretary of the Belarusian People’s Front, the Government stated that he had taken part in an illegal demonstration and was accordingly sentenced by the Minsk Central District Court to 10 days’ administrative detention on 3 April 1998. It noted that he did not file any complaint. 164. Concerning Irina Khalip, the Government indicated that she had participated in an unauthorized demonstration on 2 April 1997 and confirmed that she had made the allegations referred to in the communication of the Special Rapporteur. On 24 April 1997, the Minsk Central District Prosecutor opened criminal proceedings on the grounds that unidentified militia officers had exceeded their authority. The investigation revealed that in the situation which