Chair of Union of Poles in Belarus stands trial for organizing concert

A chair of the Union of Poles in Belarus Anzelika Borys faces an administrative penalty for organizing a concert of Polish group “Lombard” in Brest.

The gig of the well-known Polish band was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of foundation of the Union of Poles, Polish radio informs.

The main organizer of the show was a General Consulate of Poland to Hrodna, while the Union of Poles in Belarus was one of the co-organizers of the show.

A week was enough for Hrodna police in order to come to a conclusion that the event was unsanctioned. Though during the concert itself policemen were not raising claims against Anzelika Borys or musicians. Instead of that, they were listening to the music of “Lombard” with interest.

Inesa Todryk, an activist of the Union of Poles from Hrodna:

“Over a month the authorities refused to give premises for organizing a concert. In such a big city as Hrodna there was no place to organize the concert. Even Polish Consulate tried to find premises, but to no avail. That is why the concert took place at the territory of a private firm near the consulate. Policemen and KGB officers were at the concert, and nobody interfered. The concert took place without problems. And now it turns out that the chairman of the Union of Poles is to be responsible for staging the event. We hope it will be a fine, not an arrest”.

A report on charges relating “organizing an unsanctioned event”. The Administrative Code of Belarus envisages a fine or a 15-days arrest for that. The date of the trial over Anzelika Borys is still unknown.