Last prisoners of conscience released from detention center on Akrestin Street
- 9.04.2008, 10:33
9 people are to be released today from the detention center on Akrestin Street after serving 15 days of arrest for participation in Freedom Day celebration on 25 March. Their friends, relatives and politicians will meet them.
The oppositionists, punished with 15 days of arrest for participation in the street action on 25 March, are to be released today from the detention center on Akrestin Street. They are Young Front leader Zmitser Dashkevich, Young Front deputy head Artur Finkevich, Young Front members Uladzimer Syarheeu, Dzyanis Karnou, entrepreneur Viktar Kalei, youth activist of the Belarusian Popular Front party Illya Bohdan, social democrat Paval Sevyaryn, activist of the youth movement Vital Akimau and “Nasha Niva” journalist Syamyon Pechanko.
Riot militiamen detained 88 people during crackdown of the rally along Independence Avenue in Minsk on 25 March. 30 people got arrests from 3 to 15 days. The rest were fined.
Young men will be met by their friends, politicians and relatives. Lyavon Barshcheuski, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front party, told to Radio Svaboda he and members of his party would meet the political prisoners near the prison gate.
“It is a duty of everyone, who has such an opportunity, to come to the detention center, meet and support those, who have got arrests for participation in the peaceful demonstration, for expressing their thoughts,” Barshcheuski says.
Tatsyana Shaputska, activist of unregistered Young Front organisation, said to Radio Svaboda:
“We will come to meet our friends. We have already prepared flowers and gifts for them. Among the prisoners are our leaders Zmitser and Artur. They were beaten up cruelly at the demonstration. Young Front member Uladzimer as well as Dzyanis Karnou, beaten up in the militia department, are also in prison. I think they will be glad to see our support and solidarity.”
Entrepreneurs will also come to meet oppositionists, among whom is Viktar Kalei, one of the leaders of entrepreneurs’ movement. Entrepreneur Ales Taustyka said: “Members of the campaign “For Free Development of Business” will come. Leaders of other entrepreneurs’ organisations probably come,too. We will be glad to meet them.”
According to court decisions, nine oppositionists must be released at 6.30pm.
Palina Kuryanovich, activist of the movement “Jeans for Freedom,” remains in prison on Akrestin Street. She was arrested for 10 days for picketing the Russian embassy on 2 April.