Moscow women protest against violence in Belarus

Several hundred women gared in front of Belarusian Embassy in Moscow on Saturday to protest against violent crackdown on demonstrators in Belarus after elections re.

Demonstrators dressed mainly in white, carried flowers, sang songs and re poems.

y held a long white ribbon that y called a "chain of solidarity," mirroring an earlier protest held by women in Belarusan capital Minsk.

"This event is in solidarity with women of Belarus who are coming out to protest peacefully with flowers and white clos against violence. We are also against violence. As you might have ticed, re are many of us," said Masha, a young protester holding ribbon.

Last Sunday's elections in Belarus saw long-standing President Alexander Lukashenko win over 80 percent of vote and a sixth consecutive term in office, according to official but contested results.

An estimated 7,000 people were detained in Belarus first days after election as large crowds gared in cities to contest legitimacy of vote.

Russian police in Moscow did t intervene to disperse crowd during Moscow protest on Saturday, and many cars passing by in traffic honked ir horns in support of protesters.

"I came to this protest of solidarity because throughout this week, I felt so much pain as I watched online (what is happening in Belarus)," said Ilya Silivyostrov, one of few men in chain.

"And I relate it to us (in Russia), because when our president loses his elections he will act in same manner, so I can't stand to side w," he ded.

Many of protesters compared situation in Belarus to Russia.

"We see that same things are happening in Russia and Belarus; we have plenty of political repressions here as well," said Svetlana Shafieva.

"I'm mor of a political prisoner and I understand Belarusian people and Belarusian mors," she ded.

Im credits: @steven_pifer/Twitter