BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/10/2007

Belarusian Authorities Jail Oppositionsts Ahead Of "European March"

Vasil Palyakou and Uladzimir Katsora, activists of the opposition United Civic Party in Homel, were sentenced to seven days in jail each on charges of using foul language in a public place, Belapan reported. Katsora told journalists that his arrest is linked to the forthcoming visit of European diplomats to Homel and the opposition's European March for Freedom scheduled to take place in Minsk on October 14. "I was told [by police officers] that I shouted obscenities at 2 p.m. today at the intersection between Dakutovicha Street and Kirava Street, although I actually stayed in another place at the time and there were witnesses to that," Palyakou noted shortly after his arrest. "I guess I will be released only after the ambassadors of EU countries visit Homel and after the European March is over in Minsk," he added. The same day in Minsk, Yauhen Afnahel, one of the organizers of the European March for Freedom, was sentenced to 10 days in jail, also on charges of speaking obscenities in a public place. Afnahel was arrested on October 8, immediately after a meeting of the march's organizers with representatives of the Minsk City Executive Committee, at which both sides discussed preparations for the event. The Minsk City Executive Committee reportedly authorized the march but demanded a change to its planned route in downtown Minsk. More detentions of opposition activists were reported on October 9 in Minsk and Hrodna. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/10/3-cee/cee-101007.asp

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