Detentions at Protest Action in Vitsebsk

According to Vitsebsk branch of HRC “Viasna”, at 5 p.m. on 21 July near the shop “Hunter and Fisherman” there was held a chain of concerned people in memory of the missing Yury Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasowski and Zmitser Zavadski. The police detained twenty three participants of the picket and the journalist of Radio Liberty Branislava Stankevich, despite of the fact that she showed her journalist certificate.

Among the detainees there were the head of Vitsebsk city organization of the United Civil Party Alena Zaleskaya, the head of Vitsebsk regional UCP organization Ananyew and the head of Mahiliow city UCP Shantsaw, the head of Vitsebsk city organization of Belarusian People’s Front Ulad Tokaraw, the BPF members Roza Pushkarova and Liudmila Tserashonak.

The policemen didn’t introduce themselves. All the detainees were taken to Vitsebsk Chyhunachny Borough Board of Internal Affairs. There the police composed violation reports on the action participants and let go the journalist after checking her documents.