Seven people who were arrested when police violently broke up the first gay pride parade in Minsk, Belarus, on May 15 were released two days later after paying a fine of 17,500 rubles ($5.83) each for taking part in an unsanctioned public action.
The detained activists included St. Petersburg Pride organizers
Aleksandr Sheremetyev and Dmitri Milkov.
City authorities had banned the parade, citing a national law that prohibits public events within 200 meters of subway stations and pedestrian tunnels.
When 40 people marched anyway, police attacked them and beat them.
By Rex Wockner
