Activist Form Vitsebsk: I Will Stand Here, Even If Stones Are Thrown At Me

The presence of an activist in the city during the Slavianski Bazar made the authorities feel nervous.

Police officers detained Barys Khamaida, a public activist form Vitsebsk, for standing by the store with white-red-white symbols, BelSat reports.

June 20, Barys Khamaida came to house number 28 on Lenin Street and saw that the metal railing at the entrance to the store Vesta was cut. Khamaida stands here every day, except for weekends, and usually hangs white-red-white flags, ribbons, independent press on the railing.

According to Khamaida, on June 19, shortly after he had hanged out his things, people in civilian clothes began to take photos of him. At first, the activist did not pay attention to this, since passers-by often took photos with him.

"About ten minutes later, I was detained by police officers and taken to the police station. They kept me there for almost two hours, and then they let me go. The police officers explained that the reason for the detention was the coming Slavianski Bazar and some kind of "sweeping in the city" for this event," – Barys Khamaida said.

The activist refused to give explanations and sign papers шn the police department. Before he was released, the police officers told Khamaida that he would still be summoned either by a notification or by phone. He believes the police officers drew a protocol against him, but it is not known for what exactly.

Khamaida is sure that the railing at the store was cut, since he was standing there daily with white-red-white symbols.

"They are fighting with me. This is nonsense. They think that I will not find where to attach my things. They say that I cannot stand here without permission. But I have been standing here without any permission for 22 years already," – he says.

He also claims that the police officers suggested that he shouldn't appear in his usual place gain.

"I'll stand here, even if the stones are thrown at me. Only the Lord God can remove me from this place, sending me illness or death," – Khamaida said to the police officers when they offered him not to appear at the store any more.