25.03.2008 Mikita Krasnou detained

The human rights center “Viasna” found out, youth activist Mikita Krasnou was detained by policemen at the doors of his own apartment.

25.03.2008 BPF Youth chair detained

Ales Kalita was blocked in his apartment today. From early morning police officers were on duty near the doors, and police cars stood in the backyard of the building. When the youth leader managed to get out of the apartment, the policemen ran after him. Ales Kalita was detained near Pushkinskaya subway station and is being taken to a police station.

25.03.2008 Detained during Freedom Day action (list updated regularly)

According to preliminary information, the following people were detained during peaceful celebration of the 90th anniversary of Belarusian Democratic Republic:

25.03.2008 Two more detentions in Vitebsk

Several minutes ago the police detained UCP activists Ales Pazniak and Yan Taupyha. The activists stood on Svabody Square with unfolded national flag, when they were attacked by several policemen in plain clothes and road police officers. The detained activists have been taken to Kastrychnitski police department of Vitebsk.

25.03.2008 Andrei Sharenda tries to escape detention, jumps in river

Brest activists Andrei Sharenda and Mikhail Ilyin decided to hitch-hike to Minsk.

When they changed the cars in Kobryn, the police detained the activists. Mikhail Ilyin was detained right away. Andrei Sharenda managed to hide from police for some time. The police caught him only when he jumped into the river.

25.03.2008 Franak Viachorka detained

The plainclothes policemen have just detained Franak Viachorka, activist of BPF Youth, near the BPF office. When Franak went to a nearby café for lunch he was approiached by people in civil clothes. They showed him their police cards, and put Franak into a white minibus 9594 PH. The minibus drove off in unknown direction.

25.03.2008 Detentions in Mahiliou

Today the police detained two under age activists of BPF Youth Fiodar Tsiunin and Ales Anisimau. During the detention the guys were hanging a banner congratulating with the Freedom Day on one of Mahiliou bridges. The human rights center “Viasna” found out that the yoiung guys were released.

25.03.2008 Vitebsk first on detentions: Siarhei Kavalenka in police station

Vitebsk police detained youth activist Siarhei Kavalenka in the center of the city. He was taken to Kastrychnitski police department. The human rights center “Viasna” found out, the police confiscated a white-red-white flag, which kavalenka had with him. The telephone connection to Vitebsk activist is lost. We are trying to find out the details of the detention.

25.03.2008 Detentions in Brest

In the morning of March 25, Brest road police detained activists of the Movement For Freedom Kanstantsin Balahura and Dzianis Turcheniak. They were told, they had false license plates.

25.03.2008 Picket in Vitebsk ended with detentions

Today Vitebsk activists organized a picket in the center of the city. The picket commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian Democratic Republic. Several activists held white and red balloons and umbrellas. Women unfolded embroidered towel with the symbols of BDR. In a couple of minutes after the beginning they were approached by policemen who detained Barys Khamaida, Vadzim Barshcheuski, Alena Zaleskaya, and Antanina Pivanos.

24.03.2008 Police detain artist Ales Marachkin

In Minsk police detained well-known artist Ales Marachkin. Marachkin, head of arts group “Pahonia”, was detained in his studio.

21.03.2008 Detention in Homel

Andrei Tsianuta, activist of the Young Front movement, was detained on March 20 in Homel. The police stopped him in front of his house.

17.03.2008 Detentions in Mahiliou and Babruisk

A BPF activist Siarhei Niahatsin was detained on March 14 in Mahiliou for ‘being drunk and using foul language’.

17.03.2008 Zmitser Kaspiarovich detained in Minsk

On March 15, Zmitser Kaspiarovich, member of the Belarusian committee for the protection of prisoners’ rights Over the Barrier, was detained by Minsk police. According to Kaspiarovich’s friend Tsimafei Dranchuk, the activist’s car was stopped by road police.

17.03.2008 Kastus Zhukouski and Maryia Tulzhankova are in prison

Two Homel opposition activists detained during a rock concert on March 14 are in prison. According to BelaPAN, Zhukouski and Tulzhankova are accused of hooliganism and are likely to be kept in prison till the trial, which is due on March 17.