Opposition action on St Valentine’s Day dispersed in Minsk (Photo, video)

14.02.2010, 18:24

Dozens of activists of youth organizations were arrested. Riot militiamen made journalists delete photos of paddy wagons from cameras.

Young Front activists planned to hold a traditional action in Minsk on St Valentine’s Day February 14. At 6 p.m., when oppositionists began to gather at Freedom square, they found there dozens of riot militiamen in uniform and in mufti and prisoner transport vehicles in yards. A Radio Svaboda journalist took photo of on of them. Some militiamen came up to him and told he couldn’t take photo of militia cars and made him delete the snapshot fro the camera.

As soon as 30 Young Front unfurled banners “Demonstration of Love” and “Young Front”, riot militiamen attacked them, snatched flags, arrested the demonstrators. Beating the detainees, they pushed them into buses.

Young Front deputy head Mikola Dzemidzenka, Ivan Shyla, Anastasia Palazhanka, leader of the Young Democrats Mikhail Pashkevich were arrested.

The young activists who managed to escape the detention, moved to the Cathedral Church shouting “Long Live Belarus!” and signing “God Almighty”. Riot militiamen attacked them too and pushed into the paddy wagon. Militiamen were especially rude to the girls dressed as angels. Young Front spokesperson Tatsyana Shaputska hit her head on the ground. Famous Belarusian artist Ales Pushkin was detained as well. As reported, 25 people were arrested.

Leader of the BPF Youth Andrei Krachko, activists of the organization Pavel Chuduk, Anton Koipish, and deputy head of the Party Belarusian Christian Democracy Dzyanis Kabrusyou were detained in the city center an hour before. They were handing around Valentine’s Day cards with a heart on one side and the poem “You need to love” by Dunin-Martsinkevic h on the other side.

All arrested people were taken to the Tsentralny district militia department of Minsk. They were released three hours later. Detained Uladzimir Yaramyanok said the detainees were made to stand facing the wall. Minor Stanislau Stesik was beaten. Tatsyana Shaputska got some strong strikes as well. Leader of the Young Democrats Mikhail Pashkevich was beaten in the militia department for his attempt to defend Anastasia Palazhanka. He was broken his glasses and taken away the statuette he had received as a winner of the Young Front’s Prize “Love Belarus”. Riot militiamen left it in the militia department.