Police started hunt for football fans in Vorsha

After the last football match of the season policemen started a hunt for Vorsha fans.

The reason for detention was the march along Lenin Street from Jesuit College to the stadium, organized by fans before the last match of the season.

According to the information of orsha.eu website, after the reports about the march appeared in the national mass media, some high-ranking officials in Minsk decided that the march was an unsanctioned rally with elements of politics, and then Vorsha policemen were given an order to detain its participants. They were detected with the help of photographs at websites and in social networks, and with the help of street surveillance cameras and footage from the stadium, as policemen intentionally record all thoe present in the fans sector.

On November 18 a full-scale police raid against fans started in the city. Young men were summoned to district policemen, they were taken from their studies and places of work, from their houses. As said by fans, in some cases they were taken from home with the help of riot policemen, though they didn’t plan to resist physically. As a result, as said by eyewitnesses, over the first day of the manhunt, about 20-25 persons were arrested, including those who had nothing to do with the march to the stadium. There were many underage among the detained.

On the next day raids continued. This time adult fans of the football team were targeted mostly. The underage were told to sign a report of written explanation and released, and reports on participation and organising an unsanctioned march were drawn up against adults, and some cases were forwarded to the court. As a result, 3 persons were convicted, and most of the fans were sentenced to fines.

Policemen still continue to search for fans, mostly in the places where young people of Vorsha usually gather. Thus, on Sunday there was an attempt to detain three fans near Jesuit College. However, the incident ended in a conversation. Policemen decided not to detain the young people after a phone call to human rights activist was made.

The pressure on fans continues. Many expect further confrontation with the law-enforcement system.