Opposition leaders detained in Vitsebsk
The politician Pavel Seviarynets and journalist Uladzimer Staraverau were arrested outside Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski police department for alleged hoisting of a white-red-white flag on the department’s building, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. They came to support the CCP BPF activist Siarhei Kavalenka, who had been detained for waving a white-red-white flag outside the court building earlier this day.
Another opposition activist Barys Khamaida was arrested while crossing a street for violation of traffic safety rules a few minutes after he left the police department.
Pavel Seviarynets and Uladzimer Staraverau were later released.
At the same time, the police arrested two more activists – Taras Surhan and Siarhei Kavalenka’s brother Vital.
Barys Khamaida has not yet been released.