Police raids on young activists

Activists Uladzimir Yaromenak and Pavel Syarhei have been detained in Minsk

In the evening of May 16, Young Front activist Uladzimri Yarimenak sent an SMS to his friends saying he was taken from the Frunzenski district police department to a detention centre in Akrestin Street, Radio Svaboda reports.

Pavel Syarhei was detained in his flat on no grounds, Young Front activist Anastasia Palazhanka says.

She says Pavel wrote he heard unknown people knocking on the door, and then disappeared. Reasons for the detention are unknown.

On May 15, Young Front members Dzmitry Kramyanetski and Mikalai Dzemidzenka were sentenced to 10 days in custody. Raman Vasilyeu was given 12 days in custody for hanging out a national white-red-white flag in Minsk to mark an anniversary of the 1995 referendum.