Members of Unregistered Organization Young Front Gather Signatures under Demand to Stop Persecution of Its Activists

17.04.2006.

According to RFE/RL

During the electoral campaign about ten members of Young Front were expelled from educational establishments for political reasons. Criminal cases were brought against 19 persons. The organization’s members stated they would continue street actions despite the persecution.

The press-secretary of Young Front Barys Haretski stated that the collected signatures would be passed to KGB. The organization’s members hope it would help to stop their persecution. Mr Haretski also stated the street resistance will continue. ‘We plan to hold an action a week. The nearest action is Chernobyl Way. On 14 May we intend to hang out white-red-white flags all over Belarus. We will work on this plan till autumn not to lose the public support. It is necessary to hold flash-mobs, pickets, processions, etc. We will do it all.’

During the electoral campaign dozens of Young Front members were detained and interrogated. Their flats were searched. In Zhodzina the criminal cases for activity on behalf of unregistered organization were brought against Siarhei Hudzilin, Iauhen Vaukavets, Ales Chareika and Pavel Krasouski. Pavel Krasouski, editor of Naziralnik bulletin, is also accused with insult of the local officials because he placed several charges in the bulletin. In Baranavichy KGB interrogated as suspects Siarhei Marchyk, Andrei Iuruts and Viktar Kisliuk. KGB initiated criminal cases against Valery Matskevich, Barys Haretski, Dzianis Buinitski, Iauhen Skarabutan, Siarhei Liashkevich, Anastasia Azarka, Siahei Lisichonak, Dzmitry Dashkevich and Aleh Korban.

The member of the Young Front Zmitser Kaspiarovich has been already sentenced to 5 months of arrest for the attempt to replace the present state flag to the national white-red-white on the roof of Minsk City Executive Committee. Now he is serving the arrest term. Artur Finkevich will soon be tried for political graffiti. According to the accusation, he is to pay 35 million rubles for the damage.

More than 50 members of the Young Front were interrogated on criminal cases. In their appeal they demand to stop the criminal persecution of the youth activists who try to achieve democratic transformations in the country in a peaceful way.

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