On Solidarity Day Belarusians demanded release of political prisoners (Photo)

On June 16 actions with a demand to stop repressions against the opposition were held in Minsk. Some people were detained.

Rallies of solidarity were held in different districts of Minsk. Near “Autazavadskaya” metro station activists of “European Belarus” civil campaign held a picket in remembrance of disappeared politicians and public leaders. They unfurled a poster with the words “We remember” and lined up with portraits of Yury Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouski and Zmitser Zavadski, “European Belarus” website informs.

In the centre of the city, along Victors’ Avenue, Independence and Masherau Avenue, as well as along the Svislach River embankment activists of “European Belarus” civil campaign placed tablets with portraits of a political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich and number “16”. In Gorky Park and Yanka Kupala Park young people handed out leaflets with information about political prisoners.

One more rally in support of political prisoners was held in Malinauka district near “Prostor” hypermarket.

Detentions took place however. “European Belarus” activists, Maxim Vinyarski and Andrei Illyshyn were detained in Independence Avenue. For about an hour they were kept in a paddy wagon, after that the young people were released without explanations of the detention.

In Vitsebsk Iryna Pyatrova and Kanstantsin Ivanou were detained by policemen near Victory Square for dissemination of informational materials about political prisoners. They were taken to the police department of Pershamajski district and reports were drawn up against them on charges relating article 21.14 Part 2. The report was written by senior inspector Yauhen Khadzkou.