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Visa-free travel campaigner warned by police against demonstrating outside hockey arena

A civil society activist in Salihorsk was given a formal warning by the police after applying to the Minsk city authorities for permission to stage a one-person demonstration on Sunday to call for visa-free travel between Belarus and the European Union, said the Vyasna human rights group.

Viktoryya Fohel had planned to demonstrate outside Chyzhowka Arena, one of the two venues of the May 9-25 Ice Hockey World Championship.

When Ms. Fohel visited a police station in her home city of Salihorsk on the orders of the local police she had already had the application turned down by the Minsk authorities and had no plans to stage an unsanctioned demonstration. However, she was given the written warning and ordered to sign it, according to Vyasna. //BelaPAN