Ceremony for killed Belarus anti-govt protester held in Minsk

To commemorate the death of Belarus anti-govt protester who succumbed to the injuries after being reportedly thrashed by the security forces, hundreds of people gathered in Minsk to pay their respects.

Minsk: Hundreds of people gathered in the Belarus capital Minsk on Friday in memory of an anti-government protester who died in hospital last week, reportedly after being beaten by security forces.

Roman Bondarenko, who was 31, was the latest casualty of the mass protests that have been taking place since disputed elections in August.

Mourners congregated outside a church in Minsk to lay flowers in Bondarenko's memory and to pay their respects.

After a minute's silence, crowds applauded and chanted "Glory to the hero" as his coffin went past.

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for the protests to continue in the name of Bondarenko and others who, she said, died "for the desire to live in new Belarus."

AP

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