Victar Ivashkevich is arrested for preparation of the European March

Victar Ivashkevich, chairman of the organizational committee of the European March, co-chairman of the BNF Party and Valer Uhnalou, co-chairman of Belarusian Party of Communists were arrested in the evening 25 September when leaving the café “El Pomidoro” in Chyrvonaya Street in Minsk center. The politicians were celebrating Victar Ivashkevich’s 48th birthday. When they went out of the café, the bus with riot militiamen (OMON) drove up to them. The riot militiamen accused the famous politicians of breach of the peace and pushed them into the bus.

The riot militiamen asked the politicians to show their documents. But at the same time the OMON militiamen hadn’t their badges. After V. Ivashkevich and V. Uhnalou demanded the riot militiamen to introduce themselves, a lieutenant Shpakouski appeared. He introduced himself and said that the politicians were suspected of disorderly conduct. V. Ivashkevich and V. Uhnalou were guarded to Pershamayski Internal Affairs Department.

Valer Uhnalou was discharged soon. As human rights activist Uladzimer Labkovich said to Сharter’97 press center, a report under two articles (“appearing in public places in a state of intoxication” and “violation of organizational rules and holding of mass meetings”) was drawn up against the Chairman of the organizational committee of the European March. Ivashkevich is accused of spreading leaflets with the call to take part in the European March.

“It’s a provocation, by no means, which aim is discredit of the organizer of the European March and his isolation for the time of the preparation for the action. I think he will be in the isolation ward until 14 October. It’s not a surprise, taking into consideration the policy, providing by the authorities the last years. After that we expect the authorities to continue their usual practice of arresting oppositional activists on ungrounded charges before the mass actions”, - the human rights activist commented the arrest of Ivashkevich to Charter’97 press center.

“Belarusian “Party of War” is making every effort to upset the dialog between the authorities and the opposition. These people understand very well, that the European March will start the peaceful transformation of political system of Belarus and help to normalize the relations with Europe. But they won’t succeed in upsetting the European March. The march is going to gather many people and be held as it was planned before”, - Zmiter Bandarenka, one of the organizational committee members declared to Charter’97 press center.