A firefighter in Belarus was filmed removing an opposition-linked old flag of Belarus from a tree in a park in the capital Minsk.

The red and white flag was originally adopted over 100 years ago by the Belarusian National Republic and brought back again in 1991, after the Soviet Union collapsed. But it was later replaced with the current official flag by the current president, Alexander Lukashenko.

Over time, and particularly in recent protests, the flag became a symbol of opposition to the man sometimes dubbed 'Europe's last dictator'

As a now banned symbol of opposition, police and firefighters are often called to remove it when it is on public view. People have also been arrested for displaying it in recent protests.

Over the past few years (and especially this year) the white-red-white Belarusian flag has become the most significant symbol of the protests. It is not the official flag of Belarus, but it was originally adopted over 100 years ago by Belarusian National Republic, and then it was brought back again in 1991 until Lukashenko decided to change it. After a while, this flag became the main symbol of freedom and protests against the Europe's last dictator.

Since it is a symbol of protests, Belarusian authorities decided to ban it. Police officers and firefighters, who are unfortunately supporting Lukashenko's regime, are removing white-red-white flags from buildings and other public places. They are also violating law by removing the flags from people's personal property - balconies and flats. Peaceful people caring white-red-white flags are violently detained and beaten up in prisons.

In this video, you can see a firefighter removing opposition flag from a tree in one of the Minsk's parks.