Action of solidarity with political prisoners dispersed in Minsk (Photo, video)

People who came to October Square with portraits of political prisoners were met by riot police.

The action of solidarity with imprisoned presidential candidates Andrei Sannikov and Mikalai Statkevich, opposition leaders Zmitser Bandarenka, Zmitser Dashkevich, human rights activist Ales Byalyatski and other prisoners of conscience, who still remain in jails, was to be held on October Square in Minsk today at 7 in the evening.

In the morning, police preventively arrested activists of European Belarus civil campaign, the initiator of the action.

Former political prisoner Fyadar Mirzayanau, European Belarus campaign activists Maksim Vinyarski, Andrei Mauchan and Ihar Kudlayeu were arrested on far-fetched grounds. They were left in police departments for the whole day. Former political prisoner Syarhei Kazakou, a European Belarus campaign activist, was handed in a warning from prosecutors threatening to sent him back to prison if he takes part in the action.

Access to websites charter97.org, Radio Svaboda and “Belorusski Partizan” was blocked.

At 7:00 pm, about 100 people gathered on October Square. Activists raised portraits of political prisoners. Andrei Sannikov’s mother Alla Sannikova and journalist Iryna Khalip’s mother Lyutsyna Belzatskaya came to the action.

Riot police officers were waiting on the square. Police buses were standing nearby.

Police tried to detain the most active protesters in the beginning. Alyaksandr Valantsevich, a coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign, was detained near the Zero Kilometre monument.

Activists of European Belarus campaign addressed the crowd through a megaphone:

“15 political prisoners, among them the presidential candidates whom Lukashenka is so afraid of, are still behind bars.

You should understand that tackling the economic crisis is possible only after their immediate release.

We again appeal to the free world: our leaders will be killed or mutilated in prisons if you do not support us.

We appeal to the authorities: It’s not late yet to change your mind and by joint efforts handle the problems the country has faced.”

The activists also called to come to the square at 7 pm on Monday, October 24.

Police colonel Yauseyeu, one of the chiefs of the Misnk police, threatened to arrest protesters and gave them two minutes to go away. People refused to obey. After that riot policemen began to snatch portraits of Sannikov and Statkevich out of the hands of protesters. Some people were dragged to police buses.

Policemen were very rude with reporters punching them in legs, trying to damage cameras and shoving them.

Photo: Nasha Niva

Photo: Radio Svaboda

Photo: @BNPby