Distributor of ‘Novy Chas’ independent newspaper detained by Hrodna police

Dzmitry Bandarchuk, activist of the United Civic Party, was arrested by the Hrodna city police as he was carrying 200 copies of officially registered newspaper ‘Novy Chas’. The distributor was detained outside the city’s bus station, a few minutes after he received the newspapers from his partner and reported this to a friend of his by the phone. According to the activist, his mobile phone was tapped by the police. The arrest was carried out by a group, comprised of both regular policemen and riot police officers, as well as a person with a video camera.

The newspapers were seized despite official distributor’s license produced by Mr Bandarchuk.