New Detentions of Activists

Today Aliaksei Rubanau and P. Zhyukava were added to the list of civic society activists detained by police on the eve of the Freedom Day. Human rights defenders report, they have been detained in Minsk and convoyed to Centralny police department.

Meanwhile, Hlybokaye activist Yaraslau Bernikovich was detained for 1.5 hours. He was stopped by police when he was driving the car, reports RFE/RL.

In the beginning the police tried to accuse the activist of speeding, but they could not confirm the fact. Then they ordered Bernikovich should give his blood for alcohol test. The blood test was made twice, and in both cases they failed to find alcohol in his blood. Finally, the police took the activist to Hlybokaye police department, where they kept him for an hour and then released.

Yaraslau Bernikovich thinks his detention is linked to the Freedom Day: he believes the police intended to not let him go to Minsk tomorrow, but failed to find legal grounds to do that.