Do racists serve in Minsk riot militia?

The Minsk riot militia broke an action dedicated to the European week against racism, the website of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee reports.

Volunteers from the BHC planned to releases hundreds of coloured balloons into the sky near Nyamiha metro station – it would have symbolized the right of a person of any race for respect and decent life. The chief of the Tsentralny district militia department was informed about the action in a written form beforehand.

But at the time appointed riot militia men had already been waiting for the young people. Having talked with their commanders on radio set, they asked to stop the action and threatened with possible consequences.

The young people tried to hold the action some hours later. But they were stopped by riot militiamen near Nyamiha. They confiscated personal things of a volunteer without drawing a report, a riot militia captain pushed and insulted one of the girls. A man in mufti was taking video of the events.

Balloons and information bulletins were handed round among pupils of the nearest school. Human rights activists are going to complain at the actions by the law enforcement bodies to the prosecutor’s office.