The Belarusian authorities have released five Russian human rights activists detained on Wednesday, a spokesman for a Belarusian human rights group said.
Viktoria Gromova, Lyubov Zakharova, Irina Paikacheva, Yury Dzhibladze and Alexander Mnatsakyan were detained at the office of the human rights group, Vyasna (Spring), shortly before they were to attend a news conference on recent human rights abuses in the country.
"All of them have been released. No charges were pressed against them," Valentin Stefanovich told RIA Novosti.
Belarusian police earlier said the Russians were being questioned for identification purposes but "not detained."
Belarusian authorities detained and later expelled two Russian human rights activists earlier this year for taking part in anti-government protests following Belarusian presidential elections in December.
MINSK, May 5 (RIA Novosti)
