With Applause and Flowers, Thousands Attend Funeral of Belarusian Protester

People hold flowers as they gather outside a church during a memorial service for Roman Bondarenko, an anti-government protester who died in hospital following what witnesses said was a severe beating by security forces, in Minsk, Belarus, on Nov. 20, 2020. BelaPAN via Reuters

KYIV—Thousands of people silently raised their arms in the air, held flowers aloft, and broke into chants outside a church in Minsk on Friday at the funeral of a Belarusian protester.

People gather outside a church during a memorial service for Roman Bondarenko, an anti-government protester who died in hospital following what witnesses said was a severe beating by security forces, in Minsk, on Nov. 20, 2020. Stringer/Reuters