Belarusian Police Violently Break up Gay Pride Parade

Belarusian police have violently dispersed a gay pride parade banned by authorities.

Riot police on Saturday broke up the demonstration and arrested several dozen participants, beating some of them and throwing them on the ground.

The organizers said that their goal was to attract public attention to the violation of sexual minorities' rights in Belarus.

The leader of the Belarusian gay movement, Syarhei Androsenka, said the government attitude toward gays amounted to the state sanctioning homophobia.

Police refused to comment on the detentions.

Previous gay pride parades in Belarus also have been banned by authorities and broken up by police.