Authorities in Belarus detained around 100 people in the wake of shootings that left an opposition supporter and a security officer dead.
The arrests followed the shootings that left an opposition supporter and security officer dead, The Viasna human rights centre reported.
The arrests were connected to comments made on social media about the incident.
According to the rights group, the arrests took place in the capital, Minsk, and seven other cities.
It said those arrested face charges of insulting government officials and inciting “social enmity,” which carry sentences of up to 12 years in prison.
Crackdown on Opponents Increased
Belarus regime has stepped up its crackdown against rights organisations, social media users, and journalists amid growing rights concerns.
More than 60 searches of the homes and offices of Belarusian human rights organisations
and their staff reported between 14 and 16 July.
Documents and IT equipment, including laptops, mobile phones and computers
seized during searches.
Amnesty International also reported the closure of 46 human rights and other civil society
organisations in Belarus.
So far, 100 organisations have closed across the country.
Since his election as head of the state last year, Belarusian President Alexander
Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, has launched an unprecedented
repression campaign against rights activists.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Viasna has documented at least 35,000 arbitrary arrests, 608 political prisoners and about 1,800 reports of torture.
