Organizer of Charnobylski Shlyakh Yury Zyankovich arrested :: Charter'97 :: News

Today policemen of Savetski district of Minsk detained the member of the Belarusian Popular Front party Yury Zyankovich who was an applicant for holding the protest rally the Path of Chernobyl (Charnobylski Shlyakh) in Minsk on April 26, on the day of Chernobyl catastrophe. Policemen drew up a report for violation of the Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (“Violation of public order during mass rallies”). Yury Zyankovich is charged with the fact that demonstrators had to march on traffic area on April 26 while moving along Surhanau Street where construction works were taking place. Actions of policemen are totally illegal. March of 10,000 people on sidewalks of Surhanau Street was unsafe and dangerous for life and of the Charnobylski Shlyakh demonstrators.

After the rally, on April 27, organizers of the Charnobylski Shlyakh stated at a press-conference that they are set to file a complaint to the prosecutor’s office against actions of Minsk police. Minsk police exposed to danger demonstrators by pushing them to sidewalks of Surhanau Street where construction works were underway.

At a press-conference after the rally Yury Zyankovich noted that Minsk city executive committee had chosen the dangerous route for the march. “However we had an agreement with police that on the part of Surhanau Street where sidewalk was being repaired, we would march on traffic area. It is scandalous that they started to push us out of the traffic area. It’s violation of our agreements! It means that the deputy head of the Interior Affairs department of Minsk executive committee colonel Najdzenka who personally promised us to allow passing on traffic area has no respect for his promise,” Yury Zyankovich stated on April 27.

And today the politician has been arrested. Yury Zyankevich asked for an attorney. At the moment the lawyer goes to the police department.

On the pictures one can see how difficult it was to march on sidewalks in Surhanau Street on April 26…