One of the leaders of “European Belarus” to have trial for EU flags on May Day demonstration (Photo)

All activists of the civil Campaign “European Belarus,” detained at the May Day demonstration in Minsk, were released but Mikola Statkevich.

More than 100 activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” came to the National library on 1 May and unfurled dozens of European flags on the official demonstration. 1 May is celebrated as Labour Day in Belarus. Besides, this date is significant both for Europe and Belarus: four years ago ten new states joined the European Union and the EU borders extended to our country.

As soon as EU flags appeared among red-green ones on the official demonstration, riot militiamen run up to oppositionists. They snatched EU flags, broke flagpoles, took away blue cloths with stars.

Mikola Statkevich, one of the leaders of the civil campaign “European Belarus,” addressed the participants of the official demonstration through a megaphone. “We stand for free, European, democratic Belarus. Belarus must be free and join the family of European peoples. We stand against compulsive contracts, against cancel of social privileges, against discrimination of workers’ rights and for European Belarus. Long live European Belarus!” Mikola Statkevich shouted. After that he was caught by riot militiamen, pinned his arms to his sides and pushed into a militia bus.

About 30 people were detained at the official demonstration. The detained were guarded to the Pershamaiski district militia department. The detentions were continued near the militia department, where youth activists came to support the detained.

After some hours most of them were set free without reports drawn up. Reports on articles 23.34 and 17.1 of the Administrative Code (participating in the unauthorised action and disobedience to militia officers respectively) were drawn up against some people. Among them are Zmitser Dashkevich and Artur Finkevich. They young people were set free on condition they will come to militia department on call.

Mikola Statkevich was guarded to the special detention center (Akrestin Street) for a night. He is supposed to have trial in the Pershamaiski district court today.