Action of solidarity with Ales Bialiatski and detentions in Zhodzina
Zhodzina human rights defenders Aliaksei and Sviatlana
Lapitskis and Aleh Leushyk made a bicycle rally along the busiest streets of
the city wearing T-shirts “Freedom to Bialiatski!”
Other citizens of Zhodzina went out to streets wearing such T-shirts, too, in
order to mark the international solidarity day with the civil society of Belarus.
According to Aliaksei Lapitski, they expressed their solidarity with political
prisoners in such a way because the authorities prohibit any other kinds of
activities. “However, no one can prohibit us to walk in the city, ride
bicycles, rest with children and friends and, for instance, take photos. A year
has turned since the imprisonment of Ales Bialiatski today, that's why we
decided to ride and walk along the central streets of the city and express
solidarity with human rights defenders and other political prisoners,” said
Aliaksei Lapitski.
“If you don't ask the authorities for a permission you don't have to receive
any groundless and completely predictable bans,” added Sviatlana Lapitskaya.
Bear in mind that the Zhodzina City Executive Committee refused to authorize
the picket in support of Ales Bialiatski and other political prisoners the
human rights defenders intended to hold on 4 August. The ban was appealed to
the Zhodzina City Court.
On 4 August police patrols guarded the place of the picket, the stage at the
entrance of the City Culture and Leisure
Park at the time which
was specified in the application, informs licviny.info.
. At about 7.10 p.m. two youngsters wearing T-shirts “Freedom to Ales
Bialiatski!” were detained by police at the crossing of Mir Avenue and 50 Hod Kastrychnika Street and guarded to
Zhodzina District Police Department.
The detainees, Siarhei Khamitsinin and Andrei Zubra, immediately phoned to
Aliaksei Lapitski and told him about their arrest. They were released at 7.20
p.m. after identification and a short “prophylactic talk” about the
inadmissibility of participation in unauthorized mass events.
