Laughing with tears
37
11:47, — Politics
“Young Front” activists noted the most impressive comments, thought and ideas, said by Mahilou riot militiamen during trials for the action on 25 March 2008. Militiamen were witnesses at trials.
Militiaman Sayrheeu, born 1976
Lawyer: Why did you decide it was a rally?
Syarheeu: People walked up the street. Mob. Many people.
Lawyer: So, can’t people just walk round the town? Haven’t they the right for it?
Syarheeu: But they had kerchiefs tied round their necks. Why did they hide faces? They needed to be stopped.
Militiaman Rautski, born 1986
Lawyer: Did you know what an action was held in Minsk, what people celebrated?
Rautski: An action. I don’t know. My commander ordered me to go.
Lawyer: What was your task?
Rautski: Object is our task.
Lawyer: How do you know it is an object?
Rautski: Ornament. Armband.
Militiaman Rybakou, born 1975
Young Front activist: Where were we moving? You should know it, because You say I stood face to face with You. (Face in Belarusian is ‘tvar,’ which sounds similar to a Russian word ‘tvar’ (crud)).
Rybakou (shouting) : What crud? What crud? I have a face, not crud! I don’t know any cruds.
Militiaman Taranau
Lawyer: What forbidden slogans were they shouting?
Taranau: Shame! Long live Belarus! Freedom for Milinkevich!
Lawyer: But Milinkevich is at large.
Taranau: I don’t know…
Militiaman Sotnikau, born 1980
Lawyer: So, You say this woman (born 1951), were walking to you, she was impertinent, was shouting, waving her flag. It was she in a thousand-people crowd, who drew Your attention. How did You detain her?
Sotnikau: We came up to her and politely invited her to go to a paddy wagon.
Lawyer: Did she rebel or resist?
Sotnikau: Well, no. She agreed.
Militiaman Novikau, born 1985
Lawyer: You say You saw flags. What colour were these flags?
Novikau: White-blue. White!
Lawyer: What slogans was this woman (born 1951) shouting?
Novikau: She was shouting “antipolitical” slogans. She made people go Y. Kolas Square.
Lawyer: Made? How? Was she pulling them by the sleeves or doing anything else?
Novikau: No. Just shouting.
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