Just a quick note, because others are live blogging events better than I ever could:
About a ten thousand people made it to October Square last night, for another evening of peaceful protests. A mini-tent city has been set up, and about 1,000 people are reported to have stayed in the square overnight.
One of the night’s most revealing incidents was the arrest, and rapid release of Milinkevich’s two sons. Robert Meyer at Publius Pundit reports:
They were detained and charged with petty hooliganism at the polie department, but as soon as the police colonel found out who they are, he tore up the report and escorted them back to the square.
I think (hope) this demonstrates that the police are, if not yet sympathetic with the protestors yet, at least afraid of provoking them for fear of a negative public reaction (both domestic and international).
Alternatively, it could mean that Lukashenko has ordered police not to cause any trouble over minor incidents until he is ready. Rush Mush translates a less optimistic report from Hitroe Radio:
The police officers will support Lukashenka all the way to the end. The possibility that ordinary officers will switch sides is out of the question. We were talking to them for 2 hours without raising our voices, and there is no chance that they will switch sides. If they had an order, they would kill. On the 19th they were put on high alert five times, they were angry and ready to attack, but the alerts were cancelled.
Overall, though, one of the most revealing comments I’ve read (sorry, can’t remember where – Update: It was br23 blog.) was that although there were less protestors overall in the square last night, those that have stayed overnight seem far more determined to stay the distance.
The longer they can hang on, the larger the level of public support they will draw over the coming days.