Several civil society activists grabbed by police during meeting with Protestant pastor in Homyel :: Charter'97 :: News

Several civil society activists were grabbed by police during their meeting with the pastor of an outlawed Protestant church in Homyel on August 26. Ernest Sabila, pastor of the Belarusian Evangelic Church, had come to the city in southeastern Belarus to meet with members of the Francisak Skaryna Belarusian Language Society. Held at the city`s office of the United Civic Party, the meeting was attended by some 20 people.

Police officers attempted to enter the office at 6 p.m., saying that a robbery suspect was allegedly in the house. The activists refused to open the door, prompting the policemen to call reinforcements. The police burst into the office 10 minutes later, ordering all of the people inside to produce identification documents.

Seven people, including a member of the pro-government Belarusian National Youth Union, were taken to a district police department after the document check. They were released without charges a few hours later.

The 75-year-old Sabila was not detained.

The Belarusian Evangelic Church was closed down by a court ruling in September 2005.