Picket in Support of Aliaksandr Kazulin Is Assaulted by Skinheads

17.04.2006.

Source: www.charter97.org

Minsk City Executive Committee permitted public activists to hold pickets in support of the ex-candidate to presidency Aliaksandr Kazulin (who is still kept in jail) in desolate places - in Banhalor Square and in 50-hoddzia Kastrychnitka Park at 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. Despite bad weather the picketers stood in these places with transparencies and posters. The police videoed the action participants.

One of the pickets, in 50-hoddzia Kastrychnika Park, was attacked by skinheads. 15 people in black clothes broke a desk with Aliaksandr Kazulin’s portrait. They tore into peaces and burned leaflets with the call to release Kazulin. They also tore the streaming with slogan ‘Freedom to Kazulin!’. During these actions the skinheads were shouting ‘Lukashenka is our president!’ and ‘Kazulin is a criminal. His place is in prison!’

The hooligans went away only when the picketers called to the police. Policemen left the place just before the attack, though earlier they were standing by. ‘The attack didn’t look like simple hooligan actions. It was planned,’ said the picket participants.