Franak Vyachorka: “Riot militiamen kicked us. People shouted “Fascists! Fascists!” (Photo)

• 17.09.2008, 11:52

Youth leader Franak Vyachorka was brutally beaten up during crackdown of a peaceful action of solidarity at October square.

“I carried a white-red-white flag. Riot militia decided to take it away. People hung on it and didn’t give it. Then riot militiamen, whose number exceeded the number of demonstrators, began to kick people. I was knocked down, and kicked with army boots at my legs, in groin, was thrown out of the epicentre. My father had his glasses broken, in general, many people suffered. But we managed to defend the flag.

People were snatched away Belarusian and EU flags. If anyone tried to shout, riot militiamen made them shut mouth. People shouted “Fascists! Fascists!” and “Long Live Belarus!” Franak Vyachorka told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center.

It should be reminded that an action timed to the anniversary of disappearance opposition leaders Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasouski has been broken up in Minsk today.