Andrei Sannikov: «Mean actions of authorities can exclude them from list of partners in negotiations with EU»
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14:28, — Politics
“The detainments of the organizing committee members and activists of the European March Campaign can cross out the hopes of the authorities to get the opportunities of cooperation with Europe. As appears from the statement of EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European March is considered to be the respond of Belarus to the EU proposals. Forasmuch, such mean actions of the authorities can exclude them from the list of possible partners in the negotiations”, - Andrei Sannikov, participant of the negotiation group of the European March organizing committee, international coordinator of Charter’97 declared, commenting the 15 days arrests of the European March organizing committee member Zmiter Barodka, democratic activist Leanid Navitski, and human rights activist Sviatlana Harohavik.
“The consequences of such actions are dangerous for the people of Belarus, as in the absence of trade and economic cooperation there remains hopeless situation in economy, and the authorities will shift the responsibility of their senseless actions on the people of Belarus. In other words they will raise prices on main consumer goods, fuel, public utilities and so on. The authorities still have time to change their mind and realize that the mass action in support of the EU proposals is of Belarus and their own interests. The real heroes have been thrown into prison. They are the people who struggle for European independent Belarus running risks. History will settle the namely such accents, those who took part in those crimes either run away from the country or find themselves behind bars as the result of the opaque power struggle”, - Andrei Sannikov declared.
The European March organizing committee member Zmiter Barodka, democratic activist Leanid Navitski and human rights activist Sviatlana Harahavik were sentenced to 15 days of arrest by Central District Court of Minsk. The activists were arrested on absolutely false charges. The sentence was given by Judge Tatiana Pauliuchuk.
Leanid Navitski, Zmiter Barodka and Sviatlana Harahavik were detained 1 October at 5.30 p.m. near the Minsk Tractor Plant. Their 2 cars were stopped by GAI staff. The militiamen sat in their cars and drove them to Central Internal Affairs Department of Minsk. Today morning the detained could become acquainted with the reports. There was said that the activist supposedly were detained by military forces staff (former OMON) in Zaslauskaya Street. The oppositionists were supposedly spreading the news-papers and answered with foul language to the remarks of the OMON staff. But at the same time the activist were in absolutely different place – near the Minsk Tractor Plant, where they were detained.
1 October Leanid Navitski was released after 10 days of arrest in the remand jail in Akrestin Street. He was arrested for keeping of 100 EU flags, but was accused under the article “disorderly conduct”. Thus the oppositionist has to spend 25 days in succession behind the bars.
