Anatol Lyabedzka detained on his way to Astravets

The leader of the United Civil Party (UCP), Anatol Lyabedzka, and other UCP members were detained on their way to the town of Astravets (the Hrodna region).

The politician says they were going to visit the town at an anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster to meet with dwellers of the district chosen for construction of a Belarusian nuclear power plant, BelaPAN reports.

“We planned to talk to local dwellers about ecological and social problems as well as about the possible damage to the town from construction of the NPP. We did not apply for an action, because we think we do not need special permission to visit Astravets and talk to town dwellers,” Lyabedzka said.

He said two road police cars were waiting for them in the Smarhon district. “They ran to their car as we were passing by them, took on emergency lights, followed us and ordered to stop. They checked the car and the luggage compartment. A UCP activist and party's press secretary Hanna Krasulina were in my car. Policemen took their passports. They are now writing down our personal data. We are on the road, they did not take us to a police station,” Lyabedzka said.

The UCP leader noted police officers asked about the boos he had in the car, looked through several books and wrote down their titles.