The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The detention was conducted by lieutenant-colonel Katovich, the head of the public security department of the Chyhunachny DPD near house #28 in Lenin Street, where the oppositionist distributes independent press every day. Another police officer shot the detention on video.

Barys Khamaida, a well-known distributor of independent press in Vitsebsk, was detained in his usual place, near house #28 in Lenin Street. Policemen stated the administration of the Chyhunachny District Police Department wanted to talk to him.

Oppositionist Barys Khamaida was detained in the center of Vitsebsk for spreading independent press.

Judge Uladzislau Shyrokau suspended consideration of the case of Vitsebsk-based oppositionist from Vitsebsk, Barys Khamajda, who had been charged with hanging a white-red-white flag.

As infromed by Radio Svaboda, the report on petty hooliganism was suspended as there were no proofs of Barys Khamajda's guilt.

On 18 February in Vitsebsk, Barys Khamaida, activist of the Conservative-Christian Party Belarusian Popular Front, was detained for two hours for distribution of the party magazine Belaruskiya Vedamastsi. The official reason for the detention was that the policemen needed to check-up the literary editions and periodicals that were distributed by Mr. Khamaida.

Officers of the Chynunachy district police department in Vitsebsk gave such charges to Barys Khamaida for ‘hanging out a white-red-white flag’.

Barys Khamaida, distributor of private socio-political press editions, was detained once again near the so-called ‘blue house’ in Lenin Street,27, where he usually distributes Nasha Niva, ARCHE and other editions.

Detentions of Vitsebsk oppositionist and distributor of independent press are getting regular. According to RFE/RL, policemen detain Barys Khamaida and place to the Chyhynachny district police department of Vitsebsk.