Authorities in hysterics. Police running off feet

Belarusian democratic activists are being “hunted” today in Minsk and the rest regions of the country.

Policemen have been standing near the apartment of European Belarus activist Palina Dzyakava since 6:30 in the morning. Plainclothes men introduced themselves as officers of criminal search department and wanted to enter Palina’s house in 6:30 am, but the girl refused to open the door. The unknown men in mufti have been waiting on the landing.

At 6:50 am, men in mufti came to Katsyaryna Lyudvih, an activist of European Belarus civil campaign. Policemen are waiting near the house, Viasna Human Rights Centre reports.

European Belarus activist Alyaksandr Kudlaeu was detained at home at 7 am. He was taken to a police department in Zavadski district of Minsk. Policemen said he would stay there till 8:00 pm.

Alyaksandr Serhienka and Tatsyana Laskavets, activists of Tell the Truth campaign, were detained at home.

Policemen were ringing the door bell for a ling time, then hit the door and damaged the door case. They entered the apartment, detained the activists without any explanations and took them to a police department in Zavadski distrirct.

Young Belarus leaders Artur Finkevich and Anastasia Mashchava were blocked by police in their apartments.

Telephone communication and electricity were cut off, policemen are trying to storm the flats. Police officers do not say why they want to detain the young people.

Democratic activists Franak Vyachorka, Pavel Pryvalau and their friend from Homel (his name is unknown) were detained in a supermarket in Minsk centre.

One of the policemen, who detained them, introduced himself as Uladzimir Dzemyankou. He told the detained they resembled criminals, who had committed a grave crime, human rights activists inform.

An activist from Slonim was detained in hospital. Barys Kushynski went to hospital, but policemen approached him there, ordered to show his ID and then said to follow them.

Viktar Kalesnik from Polatsk, an activist of European Belarus civil campaign, was detained in a bus en route from Polatsk to Minsk ten kilometres from Polatsk. The activist had to get in a police car. No reasons for detention were explained to him. Police officers didn’t say where and why they were going.