Militia cordons on roads (Photo-report)

27 October a bus with more than 40 people was driving to town Svislach in Hrodna Area – to the places connected with the life of Belarusian hero, the rebellion of 1863 leader Kastus Kalinouski. The excursion was organized by the Community of monument protection. On the way the people were twice detained by militia. Such occasions regularly happen on the Belarusian roads – in September the buses with Belarusians going to fest to Ukraine were arrested. Ahead of every opposition action buses and cars moving from the regions to action are detained.

When the bus was in Dziarzhynsk district, it was stopped by GAI (road police) allegedly for speeding. But instead of normal in such cases trial and fine, the vehicle with passengers was escorted by two GAI cars to the Dziarzhynsk District Internal Affairs Department. The bus was enclosed by about ten militiamen. They didn’t let the people out until the identity of personalities of all the passengers was established.

Among the journey participants were the deputy heads of the Belarusian Popular Front Viktar Ivashkevich and Yury Khadyka with his family, youth activist Ales Kalita, historian Antos Astapovich, bagpiper Skryhaila. The people known for their strong political views protested loudly, that caused the perplexity of the militiamen.

The activities of Dziarzhynsk militia were directed by half colonels Sviataslau Darashevich and Vadzim Siniauski, who came from Minsk. The militiamen wrote down the names and addresses of the excursion participants. According to the official version, the militia had suspicion that someone among the passengers was going to cross illegally the Belarusian-Polish border. After three hours the people were allowed to go on the journey.

But near Baranavichy the bus was stopped again and sent to Baranavichy Internal Affair Office. This time the militiamen suspected that there were alcohol and drugs in the bus. The detainment lasted almost three hours. The passengers had to give written explanations that they didn’t have such things. The investigator said “you understand in what country we are living” and tried to make the procedure as easy as possible. But time was lost. On the way to Minsk the excursionists saw chapels in Stalovichy, Volna and Ishkaldz.

It is also known that militia detained a bus from Hrodna, driving to Svislach, and tourists who were going to Kosava – motherland of another national Belarusian hero Tadevush Kastiushka.