Attacked on the house where oppositionists hold hunger strike

Militiamen and people in mufti burst into a private house of democratic activist in Homel on Friday evening.

Protesting against judgements for a picket in the memory of kidnapped interior minister Yury Zakharanka, participants of the picket joined the dry hunger strike of opposition activist Uladzimir Katsora, arrested for three days.

As Radio Svaboda learnt from head of the regional organization of the United Civil Party Vasil Palyakou, who is also on hunger strike in the house in Palesakya Street 52, people in mufti tore off a banner “Hungry Strike of Protest”. The attackers aimed a blow at Palyakou.

The banner was fixed in the yard on two high poles so that the text could be read from the street.

A group of militiamen tore another banner and an EU and national white-red-white flags on the house facade.

Having removed the banner, the militiamen burst into the house. Here a literature and musical evening “Testament of Anatol Sys” dedicated to the poet’s 50th birthday anniversary. Singer Andrei Melnikau, poet Larysa Ramanava, artist Ales Pushkin took part in the event. Militiamen wrote down passport details of the people present.

Seven Homel activists went on hunger strike on June 26 protesting against unlawful persecution of participants of the picket Chain of Not Indifferent People”. The action was held on May 7, the tenth anniversary of disappearance of former interior minister Yury Zakharanka.

We remind that organizer of the picket Uladzimir Katsora, sentenced to three days of administrative arrest, went on dry hunger strike on June 25. On June 26, participants of the picket Vasil Palyakou, Anatol Paplauny, Yury Zakharanka, and Pyotr Kuznyasou as well as solidary with them Uladzimir Syakerka, Valer Rybchanka, and Svyatlana Mikhalchanka joined the strike.