Vyachaslau Siuchyk and Franak Vyachorka detained in Minsk

The democratic activist Vyachaslau Siuchyk told to BelaPAN on the phone that he was detained by police in Minsk in front of the building of Maskouski district court.

As said by the politician, he was detained by policemen from the town of Staryja Darohi (Minsk region). “I had a warrant to come to the police department of Staryja Darohi on April 23 at 9 a.m. However, I found it illegal and refused to follow it, as I hadn’t been informed in what connection I am summoned. It must be connected with the cross we had mounted,” V. Siuchyk said.

After that V. Siuchyk said that he cannot speak any more, and the talk discontinued.

Anton Astapovich, the chairman of the Republican public association “Belarusian voluntary society of historical and cultural monuments protection”, which department of monuments is headed by V. Siuchyk, told to the BelaPAN that the incident could be related to mounting of a memorial cross in the village of Drazhna, Staradarozhski district. The cross was mounted in memory of civilians, the inhabitants of the village, executed by Soviet partisans on April 15, 1943. The six-edge cross of Euphrosyne of Polatsk, a patron saint of Belarus, was placed near the Roman Catholic cemetery of the village. Part of the village was set on fire, while many dwellers were killed by partisans or burnt alive in their houses.

Today in Minsk a young activist Franak Vyachorka was detained near secondary school No. 189 in Haravets Street.

As Franak Vyachorka told to the BelaPAN, he was on his way to the school. He had been invited by teachers to give a lecture on journalism. Documents of the activist caused suspicion of policemen.