Search in Independent Trade Unions

On December 6 in the evening the office of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions was raided by policemen who searched it.

This information was received from one of the leaders of the entrepreneurs’ movement Alyaksandr Makaeu. As said by him, when he entered the BCDTU office, there were two policemen and four persons in mufti. “They said that they are policemen of Leninski district police department of Minsk. Policemen found printed materials dedicated to the protest rally of entrepreneurs on December 10,” A. Makaeu said.

As said by him, policemen demanded to give them documents for duplicating machines in the office. Besides, policemen told not to leave the office to all of those who were present.

Policemen sealed the 5,000 copies of leaflets with information about the rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk on December 10. A risograph was sealed as well. Leaflets and the risograph were seized “for examination”.

After the searches in the office of the Democratic Trade Union’s Congress the leader of the entrepreneurs Alyakasndr Makaeu, an activist of the Congress Aleh Korban and Young Front activist Mikalay Serhienka were detained. Reports were drawn up against them, and they were released pending the trial.

Reports have been drawn up against them on charges relating Article 17.1 “Petty hooliganism”. As the Charter’97 press-center has been informed by Alyaksandr Makaeu, policemen charged oppositionists with using foul language. Makaeu called charges absolutely groundless, and the search and the detention with the imminent protest rally of entrepreneurs on December 10.

The trial is to take place on December 12, at 11 a.m. in the court of Leninski district of Minsk.