Belarus: chronicle of silent revolution (updated)

According to human rights defenders, about 310 people were detained in different parts of Belarus on 3 July, 160 of them – in Minsk alone. 5 people were detained in Baranavichy, about 30 – in Homel, about 80 – in Hrodna, 15 – in Mahiliou, 6 – in Smaliavichy, 7 – in Vitsebsk, 2 – in Zhlobin.

Late in the evening, the Minsk police released from their departments under-aged people, journalists and a pregnant woman. The majority of the detainees were given charges.

About 100 people were detained on the square near the railway station. The police used tear gas. Policemen in civvies also sprinkled pepper spray in the eyes of the journalists who were making photo and video shots of the action. About 50 detainees were taken to the Frunzenski District Police Department, about 20 – to the Zavadski DPD, about 30 – to the Kastrychnitski DPD, about 40 – to the Maskouski DPD.

Among those who were kept in the Frunzenski DPD there were Dzianis Dzemski, Viktar Hrynkevich and Yauhen Ihnatchyk.

About 20 people were kept in the Zavadski DPD, including 6 women, one of them pregnant. All journalists were released from this police department. Journalist Pavel Sviardlou was detained in the afternoon and didn't answer the phone for 4 hours. Then he called somebody and told that he was at the Frunzenski DPD and would be taken to the prison in Akrestsin Street. He was released from the prison at 22 p.m.

Tear gas was used during the detention of Maryna Lobava and Uladz Lobau.

According to the Interfax-Zapad news agency, police officers and two men in civvies tried to open doors of a black luxury Mercedes near the central railway station. Victor Tsoi’s song Peremen (We need changes) was heard from the car. Policemen unlocked the car doors and detained one of the passengers.

At 8.30 p.m. two paddy wagons and a bus with detentions arrived at the Kastrychnitski DPD. There were more than 30 detainees including:

1. Yanina Antaniuk;
2. Aliaksandr Barazenka (journalist, was released without getting charges);
3. Yuliya Darashkevich (photo correspondent, was released without getting charges);
4. Pavel Hrytsko;
Viachaslau Kashpar;
Volha Kashpar;
5. Pavel Kruchok;
6. Uladz Lahvinovich;
Valery Shchukin (journalist and human rights defender);
7. Aliaksandr Stsepanenka;
8. Valer Sukin.

An ambulance arrived at the Kastrychnitski DPD at about 9.20 p.m.

Among the people kept at the Zavadski DPD there were Katsiaryna Davydzik, Pavel Sasnouski and Anton Zhylko.

About 40 people were kept at the Maskouski DPD including:

Astapchyk;
Yahor Babii;
Viktoryia Bandarenka;
Hanna Biazrukava;
Aliona Drobava;

Dvaraninavich;
Anton Hlinisty;
Mikita Khadun;
Kharaniok;
Krutsko;
Viktar Kuwshynau;
Tatsiana Kuwshynava;
Makouski;
Dzmitry Malinouski;
Dzianis Malkouski;
Pavel Matskevich;
Mikita Mazorenka;
Yan Melnikau;
Niachayeva;
Yury Palanski;
Dzmitry Paliyenka;
Aliaksandr Piatnitski;
Pinchuk;
Andrei Sazanovets;
Shalamitski;
Aliaksandr Silayeu;
Siarhei Sluzhbik;
Fiodar Yakauleu;
Afanasi Yatsevich;
Aliaksei Yatsevich;
Andrei Yaumenchykau;
Zeliankevich Jr.;
Zeliankevich Mr.;
Zhamodzik.

6 more people were also brought there from the Kastrychnitski DPD. Yury Yakubouski, husband of Maryna Lobava, who came to the Maskouski DPD to find about her whereabouts, was detained right there.

7.55 p.m. Ihar Kaliiash, a journalist for the Belorusy I Rynok newspaper, was detained.

8.15 p.m. Head of the public security police department of Minsk, Ihar Yauseyeu, took away the video camera from Halina Abakunchyk. He passed the camera to another policeman, but the woman managed to seize it back while they were deleting the materials. Ihar Yauseyeu tried to take the camera away one more time, but the journalist's colleagues intervened. According to Halina Abakunchyk, the police managed to erase about a half of the video shots.

9.43 p.m. Among the people detained on the square near the railway station there are:

Uladzimir Dudar;
Andrei Haloukin;
Zmitser Horytski;
Andrei Kartuzau;
Katsiaryna Nikitsenka;
Yury Salodki;
Pavel Shalamitski;
Maksim Shults;
Ales Tamenka;
Illia Valkovich.

10.55 p.m. The police continued detaining the youth who were gathering near the Stella monument on Peramozhtsy Avenue.

11.55 p.m. Uladz Lobau and Yury Yakubouski were released. Maryna Lobava was charged under Article 17.1, “disorderly conduct”.

121.57 p.m. The pregnant woman, Katsiaryna Radzivil, was released from the Kastrychnitski DPD. Her husband, Zmitser Radzivil, was taken to the prison in Akrestsin Street.

Here are lists of the journalists who were detained on 3 July:

Babruisk
About 60-70 people gathered for the action, somewhat less than for the usual Wednesday actions. It’s quite interesting that the Babruisk police clearly showed their reluctance to detain anybody. They turned away and went away to the park as soon as the people started applauding.

Baranavichy
At about 7.20 p.m. the police detained Zmitser Kuzmiankou among the crowd of spectators at the official concert dedicated to the “Independence Day”. Three more guys were detained near the Kastrychnik cinema. All detainees were guarded to the Baranavichy Town Police Department, fingerprinted and then released.

Brest
The authorities blocked the entrance to the central square by constructing there a wooden stage. About 200-300 people gathered, but were unable to come to the square. Several paddy wagons kept duty nearby. The people applauded to them. No detentions were reported. However, according to the human rights defender Uladzimir Vialichkin, the mobile phones of many civil activists were blocked, that’s why it is impossible to find about their whereabouts.

Homel
Alena Hermanovich;
Yauhen Suvorau, Motsnyia Naviny;

Hrodna
Ihar Bantsar;
Aliaksandr Dzianisau;
Mikalai Dziatchenia;
Andrei Fralou;
Mikhail Karnevich;
Yury Humianiuk;
Hanna Naumovich;
Hrazhyna Shalkevich;

Minsk
Yuliya Darashkevich, photo correspondent;
Ihar Iliiash, Belorusy I Rynok;
Agnieszka Lichnierowicz, a Polish journalist;
Pavel Sviardlou, Euroradio;

Mahiliou
Ales Asiptsou;
Hanna Iliina;
Alina Skrabunova.

Homel
About 20 people were guarded to the Tsentralny District Police Department, and 10 – to the Chyhunachny DPD. Among the detainees there are:
1. Alena Hermanovich, correspondent for the BelaPAN information agency;
2. Anatol Paplauny, human rights defender;

3. Pavel Pryvalau;
4. Yauhen Suvorau, correspondent for the regional website Motsnyia Naviny;
5. Vasil Takarenka;
6. Ruslan Ustsimenka.

Hrodna
According to eyewitnesses, about 120 people were detained and guarded to the Hrodna City Police Department. Among the detainees there are Eduard Dmukhouski, and the following journalists:

1. Aliaksandr Dzianisau;
2. Mikalai Dziatchenia;
3. Andrei Fralou;
4. Yury Humianiuk;
5. Mikhail Karnevich;
6. Hanna Naumovich;
7. Hrazhyna Shalkevich.

Mahiliou
The public garden opposite Lenin Square was ringed by the police. The people started gathering at the bus-stop near the Belarusian-Russian University. The police interfered with the action and told the people that it was prohibited to gather there. Then the riot police arrived. About 100 people managed to enter the public garden. A policeman warned the people about the “unlawfulness” of their actions through a loudspeaker. The people started applauding and then dispersed. 15 people were detained, including:

1. Viktoryia Abukhova – released from the Leninski District Police Department at 11.20 p.m.;
2. Barys Bukhel, human rights defender, released from the police department at 3 a.m.;
3. Ales Asiptsou (journalist);
4. Aleh Dziiachkou, Chair of the Mahiliou organization of the Belarusian Language Society, released from the Leninski DPD at 11.20 p.m.;
5. Halina Iliina (journalist);
6. Valiantsin Labachou, a Young Front activist, detained at about 6.30 p.m., at the beginning of the action and released at about 8 p.m. without getting any charges;
7. Ales Simanovich;
8. Alina Skrabunova (journalist);
9. Andrei Shalabodau.

Salihorsk
The central square was ringed with paddy wagons and tourniquets. The police explained the people that there would be a concert.

Slutsk
The police detained the democratic activist Vital Amialkovich together with two friends, explaining that they allegedly needed to hold a “prophylactic talk” with him.

Smaliavichy
The police detained:

1. Viktar Bawman;
2. Uladzimir Chaichyts, together with
3. his 1.5 year-old grandson Yan Chaichyts;
4. Yahor Drahun;
5. Yauhen Kutuzau;
6. Yauhen Sableu;
7. Pavel Trukhanovich.

All but the Chaichyts’ were charged with drinking alcohol in public (Article 17.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences, “disorderly conduct”) and were taken to the forensic expertise that didn’t confirm the charges.

Nevertheless, Yahor Drahun was tried and sentenced to pay a fine of 700,000 rubles.

Vialeika
The police ringed the central square on 3 July evening.

Vitsebsk
At 6.30 p.m. on 3 July the Peramoha Square was fenced with metallic tourniquets. The civil activist Aleh Surhan was detained there. The police explained that he allegedly resembled some criminal and took him to the police station in Zhastkou Street. Ales Halavan, an active participant of the group Revolution through social network in the social network VKontakte, was detained preventively, before the beginning of the action. At about 7.30 p.m. the police detained Valery Ramanenka who even didn’t come to the square. It is not known whether they were given any charges.

Zhlobin
The police detained the head of the Zhlobin district organization of the Belarusian Leftist Party Fair World, Valery Rybchanka, and a civil activist Aleh Kastusiou, who were handing out leaflets with invitation to take part in the silent protest action which took place at 7 p.m. on the main square of the town.