Belarus police threaten to start shooting as protests continue

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) low fives with third base coach Ron Washington on a first inning homer in game one of the NLCS at Globe Life Field Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

MOSCOW _ Belarus police threatened to start using combat weapons after weekly protests in the capital of Minsk took a violent turn on Sunday, in a sign that the authorities may be preparing even harsher tactics as the protests enter a third month.

Police detained over 700 people as protesters clashed with law enforcement Sunday, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The violence appeared to mark a shift from the largely peaceful weekly protests that started after a disputed Aug. 9 election.

Unidentified men in balaclavas used stun grenades and pepper spray on people participating in a march of pensioners against the authorities on Monday, Tut.by website reported.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brusdar Graterol reacts after getting Atlanta Braves right fielder Nick Markakis (not pictured) to ground out with runners in scoring position to end the top of the sixth inning in Game 1, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

"The protests, which have shifted mostly to Minsk, have become more organized and extremely radical," a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said in a video statement. "Interior Ministry troops won't leave the streets and will use special equipment and combat weapons if necessary."

The warning comes after President Alexander Lukashenko met in prison with several jailed members of the opposition over the weekend. After the meeting on constitutional reforms, which included presidential candidate Viktor Babaryka, two of the participants were released under house arrest, according to state-run Belta news service.

Lukashenko, who has been in office for 26 years, was sworn in for a sixth term on Sept. 23 as the opposition has maintained daily protests against his regime that swell to hundreds of thousands across the country at weekends.

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, left, is out at first base on a ground ball fielded by Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy during the fifth inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Also shown on the play is Atlanta Braves first base coach DeMarlo Hale (58). (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

European Union foreign ministers said Monday they are ready to add Lukashenko to a blacklist of Belarusians who have impeded free elections that it unveiled earlier this month.

Dodger pitcher Walker Buehler is broadcast on a screen as a fan cleans off his windshield to see through the late afternoon glare during a drive-in viewing party on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Los Angeles for the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves in Arlington, Texas. (Myung J. Chung/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, center, celebrates his two-run home run with third base coach Ron Washington as the Braves bench including first baseman Freddie Freeman, top, react against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Braves won 5-1. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Texas Rangers fans arrive to watch the Atlanta Braves play the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman watches after he hit a solo home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy can't get the foul ball by Atlanta Braves left fielder Adam Duvall (not pictured) during the second inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger makes the catch for the out of Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (not pictured) to end the top of the fourth inning with runners in scoring position in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, left, celebrates his solo home run with shortstop Dansby Swanson during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

A Dodgers fan socially distances while snapping a photo of a Braves fan as they arrive for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried, right, gets a fist bump from Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud to end the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodger in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Fans watch the Dodgers play in the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves in Arlington, Texas during a drive-in viewing party at Dodger Stadium on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Los Angeles. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Atlanta Braves center fielder Cristian Pache catches a fly ball to out Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder A.J. Pollock (not pictured) to end the fourth inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) strikes out in the first inning in game one of the NLCS at Globe Life Field Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Enrique Hernandez, center, celebrates his solo home run with right fielder Mookie Betts (50) during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud hits a leadoff single during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson steals second base ahead of the tag by Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Enrique Hernandez in the fourth inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson steals second base ahead of the tag by Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Enrique Hernandez in the fourth inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves center fielder Ronald Acuna greets Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith with the tap of his bat before Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler walks to the dugout ready to pitch wearing a bandage on his finger before Game 1 against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler delivers against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game 1, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson reacts after successfully stealing second base ahead of the tag by Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Enrique Hernandez, left, in the fourth inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson makes the catch on a grounder by Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (not pictured) to get a force out on Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (not pictured) to end the fifth inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves left fielder Adam Duvall gets injured on this swing against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Duvall had to leave the game. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried delivers against the Los Angeles Dodger during the first inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (21) tries not to look as Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) roads the bases on a first inning homer in game one of the NLCS at Globe Life Field Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Atlanta Braves fans and Los Angeles Dodgers fans cheer during batting practice before Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves center fielder Ronald Acuna reacts after scoring a run off of a single by designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (not pictured) as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) is shown on the play during the ninth inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Enrique Hernandez (14) is late to tag Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) on a fourth inning stolen base in game one of the NLCS at Globe Life Field Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried, right, reacts after giving up a solo home run to Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Enrique Hernandez, left, during the fifth inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) reacts after getting called out on a play by Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) and shortstop Dansby Swanson, right, to end the fifth inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

A Braves fan, right, in center field catches a ball in front of a Dodgers fan while Ronald Acuna bats during batting practice before Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Atlanta Braves left fielder Adam Duvall (23) leaves the game after getting injured on a swing as shortstop Dansby Swanson, left, taps him with his bat against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning in Game 1 Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Duvall had to leave the game. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler, right, gets removed from the game by manager Dave Roberts against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning in Game 1, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, for the best-of-seven National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)