Lukashenka’s answer to Sikorski (Photo-report)

Belarusian authorities have answered to generous proposals of Poland very quickly, by new repressions against the Union of Poles.

We remind that on February 15 in Valozhyn the first session of the court in the case of leader of Ivyanets branch of the Union of Poles in Belarus, Tereza Sobal, took place. The head of the UPB is charged with seizure of the local Polish House. The suit against Sobal was filed by the leader of the local branch of the pro-regime Union of Poles Stanislau Syamashka (Stanislaw Siemaszko).

About 40 activists of the Union of Poles were detained in different parts of Belarus. They were on the way to the court of Valozhyn district to support Tereza Sobal. People who managed to get to Valozhyn, were not allowed entering the court room, which for some unknown reason was held at the territory of a military base. Opposition activists and journalists were arrested and beaten up.

Among others, police detained the leadership of the Union of Poles in Belarus headed by Andzelika Borys.

Borys was fined 30 basic units (Br1 mln 50 thousand), representatives of the organisation’s leadership Andrzej Poczobut, Ihar Bantser (Igor Bancer) and Myachyslau Yaskevich (Mieczyslaw Jaskiewicz) were sentenced to 5 days of detention for staging a rally in support of Ivyanets branch of the UPB in Hrodna on February 10.

On February 11-12 Belarusian Foreign Minister Syarhei Martynau visited Poland. He was given a letter for Alyaksandr Lukashenka in which the Polish side informed what could be done for Belarus in case crackdown on the Polish minority in Belarus would be stopped. Among other things, support for Belarus in the issue of receiving a new IMF loan, lifting visa sanctions, launching part of the Eastern Partnership programs in Belarus, and even Belarus’ joining the Baltic States’ Council as a full member were discussed. In case repressions continue Poland promised to impose sanctions.

It looks as stepping up repressions against the Union of Poles has become Lukashenka’s answer to Sikorski.

We offer a picture story by Yuliya Darashkevich from Valozyn (“Nasha Niva”).

It was impossible to drive near the building where trial was held.

Entrance was guarded by policemen.

Irena Walus dragged to the police department.

Irena Walus has been dragged to the police department.

After the trial Tereza Sobal was met with loud “Many Years!”

A policeman threatens those present by liability for an unsanctioned meeting.

People in uniform of community services workers were closely watching the events near the building and reported the situation operationally.

Policemen from the capital have arrived to control the situation as well: commander of the legal order department of the Interior Ministry Alyaksanr Barsukou (left) and one of the commanders of Minsk riot police. Yesterday they disbanded the rally of the Young Front.