Another activist detained in Vitsebsk
Democratic activist Filip Shaurou was detained by the riot police on Monday. At about 12:25 a.m. policemen came up to activist Filip Shaurou at a central bus station and said he answered the description of a person who had committed a crime and asked to follow them. The detained was guarded to the Chyhunachny district police department of Vitsebsk.
‘The situation in Vitsebsk is very tense. Riot policemen patrol the streets and watch the people who wear badges, ribbons and other emblems. For instance, I wore a white-red-white scarf. They are probably afraid of a big action in support of Siarhei Kavalenka,’ Filip Shaurou comments on his detention.
On 7 January a national white-red-white flag was hung out at the top of the 35-meter New Year’s Tree at Victory square in Vitsebsk. Siarhei Kavalenka, 34, was detained near the tree. On 10 January he was put into a temporary detention facility for two months on a decision of the prosecutor of Vitsebsk. A case under Article 339, part 2 of the Criminal Code (repeated hooliganism, or committed by a group of persons, or connected with committing less serious bodily harm) was instigated against him. He faces up to 6 years of imprisonment under this article.
