Jude Law and Kevin Spacey march against 'Europe's last dictator'

Jude Law and Kevin Spacey joined a London protest against the brutal regime of the man called "Europe's last dictator".

They joined campaigners including playwright Sir Tom Stoppard and actor Roger Lloyd Pack to march for freedom of expression in Belarus and the release of political prisoners held by its president, Alexander Lukashenko.

Last night's event, organised by Index on Censorship, began at the Victoria headquarters of PR firm Grayling, which has opened an office in Minsk, the capital of the former Soviet republic.

Protesters marched to the House of Commons for a performance by Belarus Free Theatre, the dissident company whose members have been imprisoned for speaking out.

Spacey said he was moved to act after watching them perform in New York last year. He said: "It's the only time I've read a programme saying nearly every single member of a theatre company has been arrested or imprisoned."

Law said: "We have the opportunity in this country to be heard and to use our freedom of speech. It's our responsibility, therefore, that we speak for those who are less fortunate, especially as fellow Europeans.

"One would hope that this dictator will internationally be recognised for what he's doing, the tyranny that he's forcing people to live under."