Kyiv: police disperse action in suppport of Bialiatski

On 1 July in Kyiv activists of the Kyiv informational center of the International Control Committee over the situation of human rigths in Belarus held a marathon of letters for Ales Bialiatski. The action was supported by nine Ukrainian human rights organizations, including representatives of “Amnesty International”, and was held in the center of Kyiv, but outside the fan-zone of Euro-2012.

As the final match of the European Football Tournament was held that day, extraodinary security measures were taken in the city. The human rights action was stopped by police officers, who confiscated posters and informational materials. Human rights defender Nazar Boyarskyi was detained for violating the order of holding mass events, though the action participants abided by all requirements of the Ukrainian legislation.

At present Nazar is kept in the Pecherskyi District Police Department of Kyiv. He received charges under Article 185.1, “Violation of the order of organizing ahd holding assemblies, rallies, processions and demonstrations”, according to which he can be punished with a warning or a fine.