25.03.2009 Authorities planning provocation against demonstrators on 25 March

During a special press-conference on 25 March, the organizers of the Freedom Day demonstration Liavon Barshcheuski, Vintsuk Viachorka, Viktar Ivashkevich, along with famous politicians Mikola Statkevich and Anatol Liabedzka, said the authorities had prepared a provocation against the participants of the upcoming rally. ‘According to the information we have received, the authorities are planning to break the peaceful celebrations of Freedom Day. They have prepared cars to be overthrown, riot police to beat up the demonstrators and cameramen to shoot the show. Since we now know about the provocation, it is not likely to be implemented. However, we can expect other attempts to break the celebrations. Still, the organizers will do their best to hold a peaceful and festive demonstration’, said Viktar Ivashekvich.

25.03.2009 Freedom Day: chronicle of persecution

10.00 – According to Radio Liberty, three BPF Youth activists from Baranavichy were arrested by Minsk police this night

10.30 – According to Euroradio, at about 6 a.m. Homel police arrested activists of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Kastus Zhukouski and Siarhei Tryfanau

11.35 – Salihorsk police arrested activist Aliaksandr Tsetsura on his way to Minsk

11.45 – Minsk police detained Russian citizens Oleg Kozlovsky, leader of the Oborona organization, Aleksandr Savelyev and Maksim Tarlykov shortly after their arrival in Minsk.

12.40 – UCPB leader Anatol Liabedzka says ‘some 50 provokers have been trained to organize a provocation.’

13.15 – Homel Court sentenced activists Kanstantsin Zhukouski and Siarhei Tryfanau to 3 days of prison and BYR 1,050.000 respectively.

13.25 – Russian citizens Oleg Kozlovsky, Aleksandr Savelyev and Maksim Tarlykov deported from Belarus

14.20 – The police search the flat of Aleh Ladutska, activist of the ‘Jeans – For Freedom’ movement, and detain Palina Dziakava

14.50 – Three activists Siarhei Kavalenka, Ihar Bazarau and Valery Aliaksandrau detained by Vitzebsk police after organizing a rally in the city center

15.10 – The police search the flats of Young Front activist Dzianis Karnou and Valer Matskevich

15.35 – Yakub Kolas square surrounded by hundreds of policemen and dozens police buses

16.35 – According to lj-users, Minsk TV center is surrounded by the police