Lukashenka playing blame game? Publisher and former activist Miraslau Lazouski arrested


Miraslau Lazouski

Miraslau Lazouski, a former leader of the defunct patriotic organization ‘White Legion’ was arrested and severely beaten on Tuesday evening in Minsk.

The man disappeared around 19.00 when he was going in the direction of Mayakovski street. He failed to come to the appointed meeting and his phone was out of reach.

A bit later, it turned out that Lazouski was arrested by plainclothes policemen. At about 20:00. masked men brought him home – the man had been badly beaten, there was blood on his head, his fiancee told journalists. They put him on the chair face to the wall, banned him from talking with relatives and only allowed to bring him a glass of water. The police searched the flat, seized sports equipment and even souvenir knives. The official reason for the arrest has been still withheld.

It is noteworthy that unknown people have recenly used the cover of White Legion and posted calls for radical actions during protest rallies. Last Saturday, they created a Facebook account for Miraslau Lazouski and spread false information. The man knew about the fake profile and denied his involvement in any radical activities.

Years ago, Lazouski was one of the leaders of the Belarusian patriotic organization ‘White Legion’ which participated in street protests of the 1990s. In the 2000s, the organization folded its activities. At the moment, Lazouski is the assistant director of Knigazbor publishing house.

According to unofficial information, the KGB arrested at least 9 persons on March, 21.The reputed Belarusian bookseller Ales Yaudakha is accused of preparing mass riots.

On March 21, president Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated that ‘armed militants trained in Belarus, Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania’ were arrested. According to the Belarusian leader, it is them who planned ‘provocations’ during protest rallies.

In February-March, there has been an eruption of protesting the so-called ‘parasite’ law in Belarus. About 200 Belarusians have been detained, fined, jailed after recent non-parasite marches.  Last week, trials of participants were held in Minsk, Hrodna and Mahiliou. Most of them were accused of violating the order of holding mass events and disobedience to police officers’ demands. It should be noted that plainclothes policemen who refuse to show their IDs a or introduce themselves often beat people and prevented journalists from performing their professional duties.

belsat.eu

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