Participants of rally of solidarity with Union of Poles summoned to police

• 24.02.2010, 14:26

Before the visit of the European parliament’s delegation to Minsk Belarusian authorities continue to put pressure upon public activists.

On February 24 one of the persons who signed the statement on solidarity with the independent Union of Poles in Belarus, Iryna Laurouskaya, was summoned to the police department of Leninski district of Brest.

From a conversation with a deputy head of the police department she understood the essence of the claims: participation in an unsanctioned picket. However, as Iryna Laurouskaya explained, collection of signatures was held during meetings with certain persons. And the fact that the letter with words of solidarity was passed in a symbolic place, near the monument to Adam Mickiewicz, where flowers were laid by those who were present, and they made a picture, is not a crime or violation.

The summons was given to Iryna Laurouskaya by a senior district policeman A. Hramadski.

We remind that on February 19 a rally of solidarity with the independent Union of Poles was held in Brest. About 20 persons took part in it.

Recently repressions against the Union of Poles have intensified. Activists of the Union of Poles which is not recognised by the authorities were arrested and detained. The Polish House was seized from Ivyanets branch of

In this connection the Polish government, as well as heads of the European Union and the European Parliament expressed concern over violations of human rights in Belarus.

On February 17 the Polish Sejm adopted a resolution condemning actions of Minsk in relations to the Polish minority in Belarus. The resolution includes recommendations to consider return to the policy of sanctions against the Belarusian government.