Police Confiscates Leaflets "Say "NO" At Referendum" :: Charter'97 :: News

Leaflets “Say “NO” at the Referendum” were confiscated from the head of Vitsebsk branch of the Lew Sapeha Foundation. The leaflets were held in the boot of the car, in which Chrystafor Zhaliapaw was driving from Vitsebsk to Lepel.

In the middle of the way not far from the township Beshankovichy, the car was stopped by the patrol of the traffic police. After checking the documents of Mr. Zhaliapaw, the policemen ordered him to follow them to the police department of Beshankovichy, as his car allegedly was searched by the police.

When the luggage boot of the car was opened, some leaflets “Say No At the Referendum” were found there. The owner demanded to count them and to draw up a report, which would be attached to Mr. Zhaliapaw’s petition to the prosecutor’s office.

But the failed to explain the policemen his right for free pre-election campaigning. At the way back his car was searched by the traffic policemen again, and late at night an unknown visited his apartment in Vitsebsk. He presented himself as a district policeman. Chrystafor Zhaliapaw refused to open the door of his dwelling without a sanction of the prosecutor’s office for a search, Radio Svaboda informed.