Bagpipe band detained for participating in August 2020 protests

Police detained 16 people near Minsk for participating in the protests in August 2020. The detention took place during a birthday celebration of the lead singer from the fantasy folk band Irdorath.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, last August “a band of bagpipers led a column of protesters on a regular basis, and thus, encouraged citizens to participate in unsanctioned mass protests”. “The coordinators’ performance strengthened the participants’ protest mood and encouraged them to commit unlawful acts against the police,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Six detainees are charged with organizing or participating in actions that grossly violate public order. The rest of the detainees are charged with disobeying police.