Opposition activists demonstrate in Minsk to demand freedom for political prisoners

A dozen people, mostly activists of an opposition group called European Belarus, staged a demonstration in downtown Minsk on Friday evening to demand freedom for the political prisoners.

The demonstrators, including Lyutsyna Byalzatskaya, the mother-in-law of imprisoned former presidential candidate Andrey Sannikaw, and recently released post-election protester Vasil Parfyankow, gathered in Kastrychnitskaya Square at about 7 p.m.

Five minutes later, Alyaksandr Valantsevich, a member of European Belarus, produced a megaphone and began to make a speech, provoking an attack by policemen in civilian clothes. Mr. Valantsevich tried to reason with them, saying in front of television cameras that they were citizens of Belarus, just like him. "We go to the same stores, we are all affected by the crisis," he said. "And it is wrong that we cannot gather without hindrance and discuss our problems."

He urged the policemen to designate a place where people could hold a rally to demand freedom for political prisoners.

In response, Ihar Yawseyew, deputy head of the Minsk city police department/public security police chief, said that it was necessary to file an application with the Minsk City Executive Committee for permission to stage a demonstration.

As soon as Mr. Valantsevich started to shout “Freedom to the Political Prisoners!” through the megaphone, he was grabbed by plainclothesmen, carried to an awaiting vehicle and pushed violently inside.

The police took away images of Mr. Sannikaw, another imprisoned former presidential candidate Mikalay Statkevich and imprisoned young opposition leader Zmitser Dashkevich and trampled them underfoot.

Despite repeated orders to disperse, demonstrators remained in the square for 20 or 25 more minutes, giving interviews to reporters and voicing their indignation at the behavior of the police and the situation in the country in general.

A number of young activists of European Belarus were arrested in Minsk on Friday morning, including Maksim Vinyarski, Fyodar Mirzayanaw and Anton Kudlayew.