Vendors to Join Protest Action In Support Of Mikhail Marynich :: Charter'97 :: News

Republican public association “Perspektyva” has decided to join protest actions in support of political prisoner Mikhail Marynich every day at 6 p.m. on October Square in Minsk. As the BelaPAN was told by “Perspektyva” member Andrei Shevchyk, this decision had been made on March 16 at the session of he national council of the organization.

At the session of the council the actions of the “Perspektyva” in relation wit arrest of Anatol Shumchanka, leader of the organization, were discussed. As we have informed, on March 11 A.Shumchanka was to be released after a 10-day administrative arrest for organizing protest action of vendors on March 1 in Minsk, however he had not been released. A criminal action had been brought up against the leader if the Perspektyva on charges related to violation of the Article 339 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism), and the term of his detention was extended till March 21. A.Shumchanka is suspected of beating a cellmate, and he could be sentenced to a term up to 2 years.

“Majority of the Council members agreed to declare Anatol Shumchanka a political prisoner. We consider the actions of the authorities towards Shumchanka a political order, aimed at bullying and intimidation of vendor movement activists,” told A. Shevchyk.

As said by him, activists of the Perspektyva are to join the protest in support of Mikhail Marynich and add their demands: to release Anatol Shumchanka, and leaders of the vendors’ movement from Hrodna Valery Levaneuski and Alyaksandr Vasilyeu. The Council of the Perspektyva is going to address the same demands to the Prosecutor General of Belarus Pyotr Miklashevich.

According to the information of the Perspektyva, at the moment 60 per cent of vendors in this or that way support the national strike that started on March 1. “Many started work as they their losses are immense, but they are not paying VAT, protesting in this way,” told deputy chairman of Perspektyva Alyaksandr Lapatko to the BelaPAN.

mmmmm