Clapping protests return to Minsk (photo+video)

Hundreds or perpahs thousands cars sounded their horns on Friday night along Minsk's main traffic vein between Central Post Office and Academy of Sciences. Only few drivers stopped their vehicles and switched their emergency lights on. One such incident occurred near Kastrycnickaja metro station where around 100 people gathered on the sidewalks to support the protesting motorists by clapping hands. (In the summer of 2011, people would be detained for clapping hands when the so called 'silent protests' were organized via social networks). Riot police appeared soon after to "restore law and order."

The police detained the driver who had stopped his car and blocked traffic near the circus building in Independence Avenue. Policemen also grabbed a passenger who showed resistence. Several people who were making a video shoot of the event were detained near the Victory Square. Traffic police officers could be seen along plainclothes men noting down the plate numbers of the vehicles with horns on.
 

Motorists were protesting against the so called car tax, a one-time fee to be paid beginning from early 2014 by car owners to allow their vehicles to "participate in the road traffic".

У цэнтры Мінска прайшла акцыя пратэсту аўтамабілістаў (фота, відэа)