Belarus authorities release politicians detained before Freedom Day


Mikalai Statkevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu, Yauhen Afnahel, Maxim Vinyarski, Vyachaslau Siuchyk have been released from prison after the Freedom Day celebration was over.

All of them were preventively detained on the eve of the march on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Belarus’ nationhood proclamation which was to have taken place in Yakub Kolas Square on March 25.

They simply showed them out of prison and said: “You are free”. Now they are on their way home,” Mikalai Statkevich’s wife Maryna Adamovich told Belsat.

On March 25, the Minsk police were hunting for human rights defenders and journalists who were about to cover and observe the march and concert in Minsk. Belsat TV journalists Katsyaryna Andreyeva, Syarhei Kavaliou, Lyubou Lunyova, Ihar Ilyash and Stas Ivashkevich were arrested. In the morning, the police hampered the work of Volha Czajczyc and Andrus Kozel. They were detained by the traffic police near their homes and released after their IDs were checked. But they were stopped again at the entrance to Minsk, Kozel was sent to a mental hospital.

In late February, Minsk authorities allowed to hold a Freedom Day concert and a rally next to the Opera and Ballet Theatre, but banned the applicants from marching. However, several politicians submitted another application for holding a march on the occasion at Minsk city executive committee, but failed to give any approval.

As reported earlier, the authorities started to preventively detain politicians who were about to hold a march on March 25, Belarus’ unofficial Freedom Day. Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu and Maxim Vinyarski will spend 10 days in prison; Vyachaslau Siuchyk – 5 days. Riot policemen made activist Yauhen Afnahel leave his place after threatening to storm the house. Although politician Mikalai Statkevich had not left his house for several days, the police grabbed him on Sunday morning. On Thursday, activists of the BPF Youth were detained when distributing invitations to the concert authorised by Minsk authorities.

March 25, 2018 will be the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the Belarusian People’s Republic (BNR). It came into existence at the end of the First World War, when Bolshevik forces left Minsk and the city was occupied by German troops. On March 25, 1918 the Provisional Government (Rada) proclaimed the independence of the BNR. After the Red Army re-entered Minsk, the Communist government replaced the Rada; its members had to emigrate. For many years, Lukashenka regime has been slamming and even persecuting those who pay the tribute to the BNR.

Belsat.eu

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