Commemoration of Yury Zakharanka in Minsk and Navapolatsk

On 7 May the action “We Remember”, devoted to the fifth anniversary of disappearance of Yury Zakharanka, took place in Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk.

At that time a group of youngsters from the fascist organization Russian National Unity appeared there, wearing swastikas. The lawyer of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantski Stefanovich seized one of them and led him up to a policeman. The policeman refused to detain the RNU member, only advised him to hide swastika under his coat. On the other hand, police often detains members of oppositional movements for unregistered symbols.

During the similar action in Budawnikow Square in Navapolatsk the police detained Zmitser Salawiow, Ihar Sukharukaw, Siarhey Zabrodski, Valery Shawchenka, Viktar Mudrow, Aliaksandr Tsiarentsyew, Aliaksey Trubkin and Ihar Valiayew and composed reports for violation of part 1 of article 167.1 (participation in unauthorized action).

On 10 May Navapolatsk City Court was to have tried the detainees. An advocate from Minsk came to defend them, but then the head of the court postponed the trial to 11 May (allegedly, due to the absence of the police witnesses).