Despite European Rhetoric Pressurization of Youth on St. Valentine’s Day Follows Usual Scenario
The police have started preventive measures to hinder the traditional celebration of St. Valentine’s Day by Belarusian youth activists.
Today KGB workers have summonsed to an interrogation Zmitser Khvedaruk (who is a suspect in a criminal case brought under article 193.1 of the Criminal Code, activity on behalf of unregistered organization). Another activist, Siarhei Lisichonak, was taken to an interrogation related to this case right from his flat. However, according to the latest information he is driven to Minsk Frunzenski borough police department instead. There he can be accused of ‘hooliganism’ (article 156 of the Administrative Code) and arrested for up to 15 days.
Several policemen made an illegal attempt to enter the apartment of the activist Aliaksei Ianusheuski and then stood near his porch, waiting for him.
In Iakub Kolas Square the police detained a deputy chair of the BPF Youth Illia Bohan and a member of the organization’s council Andrei Ihnatovich. According to RFE/RL, the police also detained a youth activist Liudmila Atakulava.
According to the press-service of the Young Front, the administration of some high schools of Minsk threatened students with repressions in case they took part in celebration of St. Valentine’s Day. For instance, the provost on educational work of the Belarusian State University Suvorau warned he could for political reasons illegally expel students from the university.
The authorities still make everything possible to intimidate the youth.
