Yauhen Afnahel: “Arrests of participants of rally on May 7 are outrage upon European values”

Activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Yauhen Afnahel was arrested yesterday near Baraulyany village on his way to Minsk.

A militia car and a jeep with KGB officers in mufti drove up to the activist. The oppositionist was guarded to the Baraulyany militia department and fingerprinted. Yauhen Afnahel was set free only after a rally of solidarity on October square of Minsk had ended. The names of inspectors of the Baraulyany militia department, who detained the activist, are Udolau and Syarko.

“What happened on May 7, I mean detentions of the protesters, demonstrates that Lukashenka continues spitting upon human rights and democratic values. Besides, the strongest repression against the rally of solidarity was used on the day when the Eastern Partnership summit opened in Prague. This is very important, the authorities understand that on that day human rights activists were watching the events in Belarus closely. Nevertheless, on May 7, for the first time this week, a great many of demonstrators were arrested and beaten.

Lukashenka gave to understand his policy wouldn’t change under any conditions. He is sure he can’t be punished, he believes Europe will cooperate with him thought there are political prisoners in the country and human rights are violated. That’s why the Belarusian authorities showed a demonstratively tough reaction to the opposition action. The reaction of the authorities to the peaceful rally is a revenge of dictator for he didn’t see Prague, outrage upon European values and principles,” Yauhen Afnahel told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center.

It should be reminded that some hundreds of people with portraits of former interior minister Yury Zakharanka, disappeared 10 years ago, and portraits of political prisoners Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka came to October square of Minsk on May 7. Riot militia was thrown against participants of the rally in memory of general Yury Zakharanka, kidnapped and killed in Belarus. Dozens oppositionists were beaten and arrested ahead and after the rally.