Homel: detentions for distribution of non-state newspapers

On 9 July at 7 a.m. policemen detained the head of Homel branch of the Party of Communists of Belarus Uladzimir Siakerka and his party comrade Mikalai Zasuski.

They were handing out Tovarishch newspaper at the gatehouse of Elektraaparatura plant. The newspaper contained materials about the state of the Belarusian economy.

First the police officer Viarbitski approached the activists. Seeing that the oppositionists were handing out the newspaper, he called and invited a police seizure party from the police department of Chyhunachny district police department.

In 15 minutes four policemen and a crime detection officer arrived. The latter explained Tovarishch distributors that they would be detained for verification of the identity. Passports were not enough for him. ‘You may be on the wanted list’, the policeman said.

Uladzimir Siakerka and Mikalai Zasuski were taken to Chyhunachny district police department of Homel.

On 8 July policemen searched the apartment of PCB activist Sviatlana Mikhalchanka in Svetlahorsk. They were looking for Tovarishch newspaper.