Apartments of Young Activists Searched in Minsk

26.07.2006.

Mass searches in the apartments of young activists have been carried out today in Minsk. A computer and independent newspapers have been seized in the apartment of Tatsyana Dzyadok. Alena and Katsyaryna Kazak have been detained. Their computer was confiscated during the search. The girls managed to say on the phone that they were transported to the KGB. Policemen were trying to enter the apartment of Tatsyana Yalavaya for several hours. A Vitsebsk activist of the United Civil party and Young Democrats Yauhen Babkovich. He was detained in the street and taken to the Minsk executive committees Internal Affairs Department.

As the Charter97 press center has found out, the searches could be related to the so-called Vitsebsk case. In June a criminal action was brought up relating emergence of a new initiative BUNT (RIOT). The criminal action was brought up against students of the European Humanities University, a 21-year-old Tatsyana Yalavaya from Minsk, and a 27-year-old Dzyanis Dzyanisau from Vitsebsk. According the official police report, these citizens have planned and held a mass unsanctioned rally on the territory of Kastrychnitski district of Vitsebsk. The rally was aimed at gross violation of public order, and thwarting cultural events.

In June a number of rallies was held in Vitsebsk. An activist Krystsina Shatsikava put a national flag on a lighting mast in the center of the city, near the summer amphitheatre. (Later she was fined 150 basic units for that). Several young people were detained with her. They were handing out leaflets. Besides, a streamer with the word BUNT, and graffiti emerged in the city.
Source: www.charter97.org