Candidates for “members of parliament” brutally beaten up in Minsk

On September 16, on the Day of Solidarity, a rally dedicated to the anniversary of abduction of opposition leaders Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasouski was disbanded. Riot policemen have brutally beaten up the candidate for “parliament” “deputies”, including the leader of the United Democratic Party Anatol Lyabedzka, a deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Vintsuk Vyachorka and his son, a youth leader Franak Vyachorka and others. Riot policemen tore European and national flags.

More than 50 activists of opposition have gathered in Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk today. With portraits of Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasouski there were standing the leader of the Belarusian Popular Front party Lyavon Barshcheuski, his deputies Viktar Ivashkevich and Vintsuk Vyachorka, the leader of the United Democratic party Anatol Lyabedzka, the leader of the party of Belarusian Communists Syarhei Kalyakin, a human rights activist Aleh Vouchak, a daughter of the former political prisoner Volha Kazulina, young leaders Maxim Vinyarski and Franak Vyachorka, a former political prisoner Andrei Kim and others. The wife of the abducted Vice Speaker of the Supreme Soviet of the 13th convocation Zinaida Hanchar was there too. Many participants of the rally are candidates for “deputies” of the “parliament”.

Beside portraits of the abducted, protesters were holding European and white-red-white flags. They managed to stand on the square only 15 minutes. Then dozens of riot policemen were sent against participants of the rally.

People were forced out of the square. Then riot policemen were marching with them under guard towards Bahdanovich Street. At the crossroads of Internatsyjanalnaya and Yanka Kupala Streets protesters stopped and stated that they won’t move ahead. In response, policemen attacked people, trying to snatch flags of the European Union and national flags. Riot policemen tore the European Union and national flags.

Riot policemen snatched even little paper flags of the EU from the people and stamp on them. People were beaten by truncheons on their legs and bodies. Riot policemen broke glasses of the deputy head of the BPF party Vintsuk Vyachorka. He was armed after the rally, as his eyesight is very bad.

In an interview to the Charter’97 press-centre, Vintsuk Vyachorka stated that these events is a savagery, and “the European Union and the US should draw appropriate conclusions”.