"ZUBR" proceed with actions against Lukashenka’s third term :: Charter'97 :: News

The youth movement “ZUBR” holds actions against Lukashenka’s presidential powers prolonging in different regions of Belarus. Movement activists dispense newspapers, write graffiti, paste leaflets and stickers with the slogan “Say NO to Lukashenka!” Veracious information is spread in dozens of Belarusian towns. Yesterday, transparencies with this appeal appeared in crowded places of Minsk and Baranavitchy. The powers respond with repressions to “ZUBR’s” actions; the youth, nevertheless, claims it will keep on resisting.

Yesterday, a 10-metre poster with big letters “Say NO to Lukashenka!” appeared at the intersection of the Minsk ring road and the route to Vitsebsk. As “ZUBR” press-centre reports, the poster was hanging for about an hour, seen by thousands Minskers.

In Baranavitchy, a 4-metre slogan “Say NO to Lukashenka!” was hung at the height of the 5th storey on a building.

In Barysau, within a week, several “zubrs” that had earlier undergone detentions were summoned to headmasters “for a conversation” in educational establishments. Also, young people not related to the movement get under the pressure of headmasters (teachers noticed stickers “No to LUKASHISM!” on their mark-books and exercise-books).

Moreover, 4 juvenile movement activists, who were pasting leaflets “NO to Lukashism! NO to terrorism!”, were detained in Barysau. They were made to give explanatory notes. Aliaxandar Kazakou, “ZUBR” activist, detained on September 17 for spreading a newspaper at the entrance check-point of a local factory, received summons to investigator.

It is reported, that yesterday the Minsk Central district court sentenced Mikita Sasim to 15 days of arrest in absentia. The trial took place in his absence on September 24. “ZUBR” coordinator was accused of minor hooliganism commitment (article 156 of the Administrative Code), though he had not done anything illegal. Militia officers stopped Sasim in the street on September 22, and demanded to show what was in his bag. Having found unpacked paint balloons, they kept the “zubr” in the militia station for the whole night and charged him with minor hooliganism. On September 29, Mikita Sasim was detained in the center of Minsk and taken to the special reception center-distributor in Akrestsina Street.

As “ZUBR” movement participants think, Mikita Sasim was arrested on a false charge and in violation of all legitimate norms. The arrest purports “neutralization” of the movement leaders before the referendum. Nevertheless, the powers will not manage to bluff the “zubrs”, as the movement participants declare.