A/HRC/4/33/Add.1 Page 26 Para 14. Country Belarus Date 24/03/06 Type JUA Mandate Allegations transmitted WGAD; FRDX; TOR; HRD; BELARUS Mass arrests of peaceful demonstrators protesting against the election results of 19 March 2006 and calling for free and fair elections. On 24 March 2006, at approximately 3.30 am, members of the police riot squad surrounded demonstrators in October Square (Kastrychnitskaya Square) in Minsk, separated journalists from the protestors, and then forcefully dragged the protestors into trucks and drove them away. Approximately 300400 people were detained including at least 3 journalists, Tatsyana Snitka, Vadzim Kaznacheeu, and Tatsyana Vanina, members of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, and 45 minors. They were taken to a pre-trial detention center on Akrestina Street and were not allowed access to defensc counsel. The minors were released later in the morning. They and other detainees had been beaten by the police. The tents, flags, banners and protesters’ belongings were shattered by police, then loaded onto trucks and taken off to an unknown place. The persons who remain in detention include Kudzianava Eugenia, Zhalezka Katsyaryna, Lauranovich Yanina, Dziadzich Ina, Chehouskaya Nasta, Shchela Zoya, Vitkouskaya Tatsyana, Klimatka Ina, Zhyzhneuskaya Ina, Ivanova Ina, Burak Ina, Sergienka Aksana, Matskoil Siarhei, Mazur Ales, Arlou Viktar, Babich Nadzeya, Makism Znak, Kunich Dzmitry, Hryshkevich Viktar, Subach Mikhail, Delua Frederic (a Canadian citiyen), Liava Artsem, Adamovich Aliaksey, Kharlamchu Pavel, Rudovich Aksana, Narel Natallia, Chyzhyk Mikhas, Skarabagaty Leanid, Government Response