Singer-songwriters and their audience detained near Minsk

Musicians Zmitser Bartosik and Ihar Simbirou, who were playing a private concert near Minsk, as well as other 15 people were detained at Zyalyonaya station.

Police gave no grounds on the detention. All people detained were fingerprinted. All of them, expect for Simbirou, were released, Radio Svaboda reports.

Ihar Simbirou gave explanations, but denied accusations of showing disobedience to police. An alcohol analysis showed Simbirou was sober. Policemen said nothing about his future fate.

We remind Simbirou was released on May 6 after ten days in custody.

The activist served his term in a detention facility on Akrestin Street on a decision of a judge of the Kastruchnitski district court of Minsk, Natallya Pratasavitskaya.

Ihar Simbirou said he was on hunger strike during the first three day protesting against illegal, as he thinks, arrest. He ended hunger strike after he felt worse. Simbirou says he received parcels only from his friend, musician Zmitser Bartosik.

Ihar Simbirou was detained at the Minsk railway station on April 26 after he had arrived from Asipovichy to take part in the Chernobyl Way rally. He phoned from a police department and said he had been beaten during the detention. Policemen drew up a report over an administrative offence. Simbirou was accused of disorderly conduct and disobedience to police. The court found him guilty of  committing these offences.