Belarusian riot police on Saturday violently detained several dozen women protesters who took to the streets demanding the release of opposition leaders. Many of them had gathered in Minsk as a part of a women’s protest.

Some beat saucepans with ladles and others chanted “Bring back our Masha”, referring to opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova by her diminutive name.

Earlier, this week Kolesnikova was arrested by the Belarusian authorities. She is the last of three women leading the mass protest against President Alexander Lukashenko to remain inside Belarus.

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A clash broke out in Minsk’s central Freedom Square as riot police in black facemasks and green uniform started detaining the protesters. A video showed riot police officers roughly throwing female protesters into police vans.

The Viasna rights group said that more than 40 protesters had been detained.

The spokeswoman for the interior ministry, Olga Chemodanova, told AFP that “women had been detained” but could not say how many or provide other details.

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In a video appeal, Tikhanovskaya, who was forced out of the country and was granted refuge in EU member Lithuania, urged riot police to stop the violence.

“You will be ashamed of what you are doing today,” she said, calling the violence “outrageous.”