Opposition leader Anatol Lyabedzka beaten by riot militia until he was bleeding
21- 16.10.2009, 18:56
On October 16, the head of the United Civil Party was arrested and beaten during the picket of solidarity in Minsk.
A correspondent of www.charter97.org managed to ring Anatol Lyabedzka up when he was in the Tsentralny district militia department of Minsk.
“I am in the Tsentralny district militia department now, there are about 25 other participants of the rally,” the UCP leader said. “I was detained on the square and beaten up. Then I was thrown into a bus, where I was beaten again. A riot militiaman grabbed from behind around my neck, another one was holding my arms, and the third was beating at my face. I was bleeding.”
According to Anatol Lyabedzka, the actions of the Belarusian authorities resemble psychosis.
“This is psychosis. People gathered on the square to pay tribute to the memory of the kidnapped, but militia detain and beat them. such behaviour of the authorities is indirect acknowledgement of presence of political prisoners in the country,” the politician said.
