Regime fears mass rally on March 25: oppositionists detained on their way to Minsk (Updated)
- 25.03.2009, 11:28
On March 25 oppositionists Kanstantsin Zhukouski and Syarhei Tifanau were detained in Homel, Alyaksandr Tsatsyra, and three young activists in Baranavichy.
As BelaPAN was informed by friends of the politicians, they were taken to the police department of Tsentralny district of Homel. The police department refused comments on the reason of the activists’ detention.
The trial has been held today. Judge of Tsentralny district Alena Tsalkova fined S. Trifanau 30 basic units (1 million 50 thousand Br) for disturbing public peace under Article 17.1 of the Administrative Code. Judge Maryna Damnenka sentenced K. Zhukouski to three days of administrative arrest under the same article.
In the court policemen testified that activists were detained on the top of a multi-storey building in Lenin Avenue. Policemen arrived there after a call of a dweller of the house who informed that young people allegedly disturbed public peace “by noisily climbing the fire-escape stair”. The activists stated in the court that they wanted to admire the sunrise from the top.
Today morning the state flag was removed from the building of the regional economic court. The unknown placed the white-red-white flag instead. Police tried to charge the detained activists of the BCD party with these actions, but fails to prove that, as the young people were detained on the roof of another building.
Since 10.30 a.m. an activist of the created public campaign “For Free Development of Entrepreneurship” Alyaksandr Tsatsura is kept in the police department in Salihorsk.
As Radio Svaboda was told by the detained, he planned to participate in Freedom Day celebration in Minsk today.
“I was warned in the morning that police would guard me at the exist road. That is why I took a detour road. However soon I noticed a chase. Policemen were following me in a service car and they ordered me to stop,” the activist said.
Today night policemen have also detained 3 “Moladz BPF” activists from Baranavichy.
The young people had 15 spinning rods and even more white-red-white flags, as well as jackets with the words “Moladz BPF”.
On March 25, celebrated as Freedom Day by representatives of the democratic community, opposition rallies are to take place in a number of Belarusian cities including Homel. The rally in Minsk is to start at 6 p.m. near the Academy of Science.