Europe's last dictator against European March

• 11.10.2007, 16:30

Youth activists Mikita Sasim and Pavel Yuhnevich were detained today in Minsk district Suharevo. The people in civvies came to the activists, show their militia certificates and said the youth activists were allegedly suspected in committing a criminal offence. What was the “offence” the militiamen didn’t say. As it became known to Charter’97 press center Mikita Sasim was even handcuffed.

The militiamen searched the car of the youth activists. Now they are going to be guarded to Frunzenski district of Minsk.

The authorities continue persecuting the democrats on the European March’s eve. Today Mikola Lemianouski, one of the heads of BPF (Belarusian Popular Front) Grodna city organization was arrested for 5 days, Ihar Bantser, activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus - for 10 days, youth activist Pavel Kuryanovich – for 10 days, all on fabricated accusations.

Earlier to the arrests of 10-15 days were sentenced: Yauhen Afnahel, one of the European March applicants, Zmiter Barodka, the European March organizing committee member, democratic activists Aliaksandr Atroshchankau, Leanid Navitski, human rights activist Sviatlana Harahavik, many activists of the United Civil Party and the BPF.

All in all 50 people were arrested for the preparation of the European March.

The Belarusian human rights activists note that the situation on the European March’s eve resembles the one before 19 March 2006, when hundreds of oppositional activists were preventively arrested, but more than 40.000 Belarusians took to the street.