Persecution of organizers of the People's Assembly continues all over Belarus
The Belarusian
authorities continue pressurizing members of the organizing committee of the
national People's Assembly which will take part in towns and cities of Belarus on 8
October.
Minsk
On 6 October in the evening a police inspector paid a visit to the
apartment of Dzianis Sadouski, responsible secretary of the organizing
committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party. He asked Dzianis's
parents about the whereabouts of their son, as he wanted to pass him a summons
to the procuracy. Most probably, the procuracy wants to warn the activist
against taking part in the People's Assembly.
Dzisna
On 6 October an organizers of the People's Assembly in the town of Dzisna was called to the
ideology chairman of the Miyory District Executive Committee. However, she
refused to go there and talk to the officials, though they even sent a car for
her.
Moreover, several days ago the local police inspector paid visits to the people
who had signed in support of the People's Assembly and recommended them not to
take part in it.
Homel
On 6 October Kastus Zhukouski was released from jail after serving a 15-day
arrest term. He kept a hunger-strike during the whole time of the arrest and
returned home with a broken leg as a result of police violence.
Nevertheless, Zhukouski, who is an organizer of the People's Assembly, received
a summons to the Savetski District Procuracy of Homel for 7 October, as well as
two more organizers, Uladzimir Katsora and Vasil Paliakou. All of them were
issued with official warnings about the inadmissibility of law violations.
The Homel authorities also decided to hold a fair on the ground where the
People’s Assembly will take place. They also prepared a surprise for pupils and
students: they can visit the Rymiantsau and Pashkevichy palace, Vashchanka’s
picture gallery, the history museum, two cinemas and the skating rink on Rechytskaya
highway free of charge. The only requirement is to show their student IDs.
It’s worth noting that the administrations of educational establishments also
warned students about the possibility of repressions if they took part in the
People’s Assembly.
Baranavichy
On 6 October Anzhela Kambalava, a member of the organizing committee of the
People's Assembly, was summonsed to the city police department. An unknown man
who introduced himself as a police officer phoned her and told that she had
been seen near the check-up point of the “Handalmash” plant, possibly with
leaflets in her hands, that's why she needed to come to the police to give
appropriate explanations.
However, the activist refused to come to the police without getting official
summons first.
On 7 October it became known that the Baranavichy police were looking for
Viktar Meziak, chairman of the organizing committee of the People's Assembly in
Baranavichy. Two police officers paid a visit to Viktar's house in the morning
and asked his relatives about his whereabouts.
By the way, on 30 Setember Viktar Meziak had been detained by the police while
posting leaflets with invitation to the People's Assembly in the Uskhodni
suburb. He was given charges under Article 23.34, “violation of the order of
organizing and holding mass events”.
Mahiliou
Uladzimir Shantsau, Chair of the Mahiliou region organization of the United
Civil Party, received a written warning from the Leninski District Procuracy of
Mahiliou.
The procuracy warned the politician about “the inadmissibility of preparation
of actions violating the norms of the Belarusian Law “On Mass Events”. The
document, signed by prosecutor Snitkou, warns the activist about the
possibility of administrative punishment for such actions.
As it follows from the warning, the procuracy considers the People's Assembly
as a mass event, which requires a preliminary agreement of the local
authorities. In fact, people's assemblies don't fall under provisions of the
Law “On Mass Events” and are regulated by the Law “On National and Local
Assemblies”.
Mr. Shantsau considers the warning as an attempt to disrupt the action. He has
already filed an appeal against the warning.
Mazyr
Mazyr District Procuracy warned human rights defender Uladzimir Tseliapun
about responsibility for the organization of or participation in the People's
Assembly, though he just asked to authorize a picket. In the morning he was
visited by a delegation headed by Tatsiana Hancharenka, ideology head of the
Mazyr District Executive Committee, who familiarized the human rights defender
with the refusal to authorize the picket he intended to hold on 8 October at
the “Spartacus” stadium.
After this, Mr. Tseliapun had to go to the Mazyr District Procuracy. At the
same time, some police officers kept looking for him.
By the way, it is the fourth refusal to authorize an action that has been
received by Uladzimir Tseliapun lately.
Babruisk
On 6 October in the evening members of the organizing committee of the
National Assembly started receiving telephone calls. Some of them were asked to
come to the police, some others – to the city executive committee. All of them
were told that it was “very important”.
Kanstantsin Loktseu, a member of the organizing committee, agreed to meet with
a police officer. The latter introduced himself as lieutenant-colonel
Trubachkin. He came to the office of the United Civil Party on his duty car,
but didn't show his ID. Instead, he just handed to the activist a Xerox copy of
an “Official warning about the inadmissibility of violations of law”, signed by
the district prosecutor Haurykau.
“I didn't sign anything, I just took the paper,” says Kanstantsin Loktseu. “I
consider it as another attempt to make us refuse from holding the People's
Assembly.”
According to Viktar Buzinayeu, a coordinator of the committee, two people had
to leave the committee because of the pressurization. “I think that this
pressurization will increase today, on the last day before the assembly,” says
Buzinayeu.
Smaliavichy
On 7 October Artur Eshbayeu, an organizer of the People's Assembly in
Smaliavichy, was sentenced to 7 days of arrest by the Smaliavichy District
Court. His wife Aliaksandra Eshbayeva, Mikhail Khviadchenia, Yauhen Sableu, A.
Martysiuk and some others were taken to the Smaliavichy District Police
Department for coming to the court to support Artur at the trial.
Navapolatsk
Today democratic activist Uladzimir Kuntsevich, who works at the position
of industrial engineer at the “Palimir” plant, has been unexpectedly told that
he would have a working Sunday on 8 October. The official reason is “industrial
necessity”.
The activist is sure the real reason is the holding of the People's Assembly on
8 October. “I am not an organizer of the assembly in Navapolatsk, but the
administration decided to prevent even the possibility of my participation in
it,” commented Kuntsevich.
Polatsk
The school authorities of Polatsk increased the number of classes on Saturday, 8 October. So, the children will have to stay at schools till 2 p.m.
Orsha
The Orsha City Procuracy issued official warnings to two members of the organizing committee of the People's Assembly, Minai Karniyenka and Mikalai Dziamidau, the both of whom are also representatives of the Orsha organization of the Belarusian Leftist Party "Fair World".
