Brest: police had to offer apologies to collector of signatures
We learned about the details of an incident that
took place during one of the last days of collection of signatures in support
of nomination of candidates for president of Belarus. The member of Uladzimir
Niakliayeu’s campaign team Dzmitry Lazarenkau collected signatures in the Kavaliova suburb. He was met by an
extremely irritated woman in house #12 in Valhahradskaya Street. She said that she
was an adherent of Lukashenka and decided to call the police in order to
prevent him from collecting signatures in the house.
A police patrol came there with a dog. Though Lazarenkau showed them his
documents including the certificate of a member of the campaign team, the
policemen insisted on his coming to the police station together with them. The
activist refused to do it, as he was sure that he didn’t violate any laws by
his actions.
The debates lasted for about 30 minutes. After that some other dwellers stood
for Dzmitry, saying they knew him quite well (he lives in a neighboring house)
and that he didn’t violate any laws while collecting the signatures. As a
result the policemen changed their mind and offered him their apologies instead
of guarding him to the police station.
Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections
