The head of Belarus's Investigative Committee, Ivan Noskevich, said criminal charges had been filed in connection with the riots and violence against police.
"The riots took place tonight in Minsk and several other parts of the country," the state news agency BelTA reported.
The head of the Investigative Committee said that the protesters would be sentenced to eight to 15 years in prison.
He noted that the violations were accompanied by the destruction of property, resistance to government officials, and law enforcement officers registered garbage cans, seats, sticks, pieces of paving slabs, glass bottles and flammable liquids as criminal weapons:
"Currently, more than 100 investigators are working at the scene."
According to him, most of the suspects and detainees were drunk. Video surveillance records were taken. The identities of those involved in the riots have been identified and their identities are being determined. Their actions will be given an appropriate legal assessment.
A criminal case has been launched under various articles of Article 293 of the Criminal Code of Belarus for organizing riots.
The head of the committee called on not to heed provocations and calls to disrupt public order.