Vitebsk police watch opposition activists even at nights

Opposition activists may face preventive detention ahead of the festival Slavonic Bazaar.

Former political prisoner Siarhei Kavalenka told charter97.org about the unprecedented measures taken by the local authorities ahead of the festival in Vitebsk.

“I always saw policemen outside my house on all so called holidays. They were seen even at night and they followed me everywhere every day. I was issued a second warning and thrown into jail. They are just watching me now. They even stay in their cars in the yard at nights. All neighbours already know them. I think opposition activists and I can be detained ahead of the festival as it happened on March 25,” the activist of the Conservative Christian Party BPF supposed.

The opposition activist notes the authorities want to clear the city of homeless people, brawlers and activists.

“In general, Slavonic Bazaar is a holiday for moochers from the law-enforcement agencies. As for Yauseyeu, I think he is a bad person. Those who 'occasionally' began to work for the law-enforcement services begin to behave in bad way,” Siarhei Kavalenka said.

Ihar Yauseyeu, the head of the Vitebsk regional police, said that homeless people and brawlers must be isolated and the police presence must be increased in Vitebsk for the time of the festival .