Belarusian authorities weaken optimistic expectations of opposition about “hot autumn” with repression

After serving a five-day administrative arrest, opposition politician Mikola Statkevich has left the detention centre in Akrestsin Street. The authorities have combined financial harassment and arrests of opposition activists before announced street protests against the West-2017 Russo-Belarusian military drill, which should start on September 8^th, 2017. The Belarusian leadership has used cautious repression with a gradual pressure build-up against the leaders of protest movement, so as not to cause a sharp reaction from Western capitals and not to make a U-turn in Belarusian-European relations. So far, many of the previously convicted activists have not been brought to justice, however, law enforcement is likely to detain them if they attempt to participate in protest activities.