“Liberalization” goes on: arrests and searches in apartments of oppositionists (Updated)

Militiamen burst into apartment, hired by activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Paval Yukhnevich, searched it and confiscated equipment and EU flags.

Militiamen opened the door of the apartment in Kazlou Street in Minsk with the help of its owner. As Alyaksandr Atroshchankau, spokesman of “European Belarus”, told the Charter’97 press center, the apartment had been searched. Two laptops, a camcorder, a camera, EU flags, portraits of missing Belarusian opposition leaders and political prisoners, and stickers “European Belarus” were seized. At least 10 militia officers conducted the search.

5 youth activists, Yuhen Afnahel, Paval Yukhnevich, Uladz Ihnatovich, Marta Krylova, and Alyaksandr Lyndava, were guarded to the Pershamaiski district militia department.

As youth leader Paval Yukhnevich told the Charter’97 press center, militiamen said they were searching the apartment in the connection with a criminal case, instigated over a theft. However, the oppositionists weren’t questioned in this case in the militia department. Militia officers were interested what the activists were doing in the apartment in Kazlou Street.

“They didn’t ask about a theft. They were interested what we were doing in the flat, where we had got the printed materials from. They said the seized portraits of missing opposition leaders and political prisoners, EU flags, stickers “European Belarus” had “anti-state” character,” Paval Yukhnevich said.

Two hours later, all detainees were released. Things, confiscated from Paval Yukhnevich’s apartment, were left in the militia department.