Police Warns Activist Barys Khamaida “in a Friendly Way”

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” found out, at about 11 a.m. police officers approached Mr. Khamaida on a street and took him to Chyhunachny district police department. After a 30-minute “preventive” conversation he was released, warning him that they didn’t want to see him on the city streets anymore. The reason was explained in a very simple way: “you know yourself, why”. The matter is the Slavianski Bazar festival which is held in Vitebsk every year. The president is supposed to arrive to the city to attend the event. That is why the local police are nervous. This is also the reason why the police warn Vitebsk drivers not to stop and not to park on the central streets of the city.