Lies as corporate style

Traffic police representatives state that during “Stop Petrol” protest in Minsk on August 22 no streets were blocked!

On Saturday morning petrol prices went up once again. Though the increase was only 3%, drivers decided to respond at once. Information appeared on the web: Monday at 7 p.m. motorists are to block traffic in central Minsk, “Komsomolskaya Pravda in Belarus” writes. And a few hours before the “Stop-Petrol” rally policemen gave a warning:

“We remind that in line with the legislation currently in force such calls and concrete actions are illegal. Organising them and participation in them can result in administrative and criminal liability. Efforts of Minsk policemen are aimed at public order protection and prevention of criminal acts. Law-enforcing agencies are ready to take all necessary measures in order to ensure public order and supervise over compliance with legislation,” such a report was posted on the website of the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs of Minsk city executive committee.

At 6 p.m. buses with riot policemen were already standing near the main entrance to Gorky Park and in Kamunistychnaya Street. And 10 minutes before the protest traffic policemen cordoned off all ways from the adjacent streets to Independence Avenue. There were crazy traffic jams in Bahdanovich, Surhana, Maskouskaya Streets because of that. Drivers, who had not heard about the protest at all, expressed indignation, saying that traffic police should have warned about blocking the streets. However, traffic police is sure that Monday evening one could drive along Independence Avenue with no trouble.

- No streets had been shut off. Traffic in all avenues was taking place in a usual course, -- “KP” was told by the traffic police chief of Minsk Dzmitry Korzyuk.

- Mr Korzyuk, but the avenues were empty!

- Who had told you that? Have you seen that yourselves?

It is not the first time when traffic policemen shut off the main street of Minsk during “Stop-Petrol” protest. For instance, on July 20 people could not move along Independence Avenue, as an electrician had to change a light bulb near the Circus. It took one hour.

During the rally held on Monday a son of Ales Byalyatski, a human right activist who had been charged with tax evasion, was detained. The car of 22-year-old Adam attracted attention of traffic policemen when he put the car on emergency brake and opened the hood. In a few minutes his Citroën was evacuated, and the driver was offered to go in a traffic police car, but he refused. After that his arms were twisted, he was handcuffed and placed into the car. On Tuesdya he stood trial in the court of Central district of Minsk. He was found guilty of petty hooliganism and fines 350 thousand.

Besides, it should be noted that the chief of Minsk traffic police Korzyuk was a witness in court trials in the case of December 19 protest against rigged election results. He had not appeared in court personally, but his “testimony” was presented in written form.