YAUHEN SKOCHKA: POLICE DETAINED 17 PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM UNDER-AGE

24.11.2003.

On November 24, 5.30 p.m. Young Front activists started an action in Yakub Kolas Square against the possible referendum on the third presidential term to Alexander Lukashenka.
At 5.50 p.m. the police detained one of the Young Front leaders Yauhen Skochka, Zmitser Dashkevich, Aksana Novikava, Ruslan Kharkevich, Hnedchyk, and Vasil Parfiankou.
Yauhen Skochka was released from the police board at 7 p.m., because he had a journalist card with him. According to Yauhen Skochka, 17 people were detained, many of them under age. He says, most of the people were detained on the bus station, before the action actually began.
The action was organized by Young Front. The organizers were not allowed to hold a march and a rally in Yakub Kolas Square. Minsk administration gave official permission to have the action in Bangalor Square, far from the center of the city. However, Young Front leadership announced the action would be held at 5.30 p.m. in the city center.
At 5.45 p.m. the action participants started to walk towards the Independence Square. At 5.50 they were surrounded by police, who started to detain the activists.
We will publish the complete list of the detained as soon as we get more information.