Authorities Interfere With Holding Congress of Pro-democracy Forces :: Charter'97 :: News

First meeting for nomination of delegates for National Congress of pro-democracy forces in Svetlahorsk has been almost disrupted by policemen. An hour before the beginning of the meeting, the head of Homel branch of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Viktar Ramanishka and the head of Svetlahorsk city branch of the BPFP Vadzim Balabash, responsible for the meeting holding, were detained by police, when they left their homes.

Detention of the organizers, who were kept in police for three hours without any reasons, could frustrate efforts of the organizers of the meeting. However, the meeting was held, but not in the office, but in the forest, on the back of the Byarezina River. The organizers had to change the place of the meeting twice.

“As soon as we came to Svetlahorsk, we saw a minibus with policemen and several cars with tinted glasses and special aerials which were following us,” told the deputy chairman of the United Civil Party Alyaksandr Dabravolski.

The meeting of 37 delegates ended at 9 p.m. By secret vote two delegates, the UCP member and the representative of the republican public association “Perspektiva” were chosen for the congress out of five contenders. “We should not say their names now, because pressure on them would result,” Alyaksandr Dabravolski said.

“As it was the first meeting of this kind in Belarus, the authorities are really alarmed. According to information from the regional executive committee, local authorities have been warned by higher officials that in case this congress would happen, their heads will roll,” told one of the organizers of the congress, the BPF member Telman Maslyakou.