New arrests for the European March

Zmiter Barodka, member of the European March organizing committee, Leanid Navitski, and human rights activist Sviatlana Harohavik were detained today at 5.30 p.m. by military forces staff. The oppositionists managed to inform on telephone the Charter’97 press center that they are being guarded to the Central District Internal Affairs Department of Minsk. Now there telephones are turned off.

As it was noticed, Leanid Navitski was released today from the remand jail in Akrestin Street, where he spent 10 days. He was arrested by the KGB agents, who confiscated from his flat 100 EU flags and informational materials with the European symbols. “

At first the report against him was drawn up under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences (call for the participation in unsanctioned action). But 25 September in court the district militia officer of Partyzanski District Internal Affairs Department, senior lieutenant Andrey Dobkin claimed that Leanid Navitski supposedly used the obscene words in Partyzanski District Militia Department and thus the protocol under Article 17.1 of the CAO (disorderly conduct) was drawn up.

The authorities are providing their usual policy, arresting the potentially active citizens on the eve of mass actions, groundless accusing them of “disorderly conduct”. They do the same in 2006 before the president elections and this year before Freedom Day.

Judge Alena Tityankova convicted Navitski and sentenced him to 10 days of arrest. But the activist has another report drawn up for the organization of the European March, thus one more trial is possible.

The reasons of the activist detainment and their further destiny are being found out.

It should be reminded that Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner declared her protest against arrests of the democratic forces activists. It is clear from the statement that the repressions against opposition make difficult the relations between official Minsk and Europe.