BELARUS: Authorities release opposition activists and police break up small protest in Minsk

Record ID: 335054

  • Title: BELARUS: Authorities release opposition activists and police break up small protest in Minsk
  • Date: 1st February 2011
  • Summary: FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS ON WALL
  • Embargoed: 16th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belarus, Belarus
  • Country: Belarus
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7IA2XNR2SK8TPL75Y4DSQMTP
  • Story Text: Belarus authorities released from jail several opposition activists detained during mass street protests after December 2010 presidential poll as the European Union is expected to introduce sanctions against Minsk.
    On Sunday (January 30) night police broke up small opposition rally in the capital Minsk, detaining at least ten people. The protesters gathered to express their support for Belarus opposition activists.
    Belarus security service on Saturday (January 29) released seven opposition members detained after December 19 street protests, including a former presidential candidate Vladimir Neklyayev.
    The move came on the eve of an expected announcement by the European Union that it will reinstate a travel ban on Lukashenko and other Belorussian officials in response to the crackdown on protests following disputed December poll.
    Editor of opposition website "Charter-97" Natalia Radina was among the first released on Saturday.
    "Almost all of my friends are no more with me. They are either still in jail or have left this country because they are under threat of arrest. And this is terrible when there are only few close friends are still here," Radina told Reuters.
    She is not allowed to stay in Minsk for a long time and has to leave for her hometown in the Brest region where her mother lives and where she is officially registered. Radina stayed over the weekend in an apartment of her friends where she met with journalists.
    "Only subsequent and effective measures and the subsequent reaction of Europe, of the United States and Russia, and the whole civilised world will help free all of those arrested and to free the country as well," Radina added.
    Belarus security service said in a statement that Vladimir Neklyayev, 64, and six other people, including the wife of another jailed presidential candidate, were being provisionally released because of good behaviour.
    Neklyayev, a poet who heads of the "Tell the Truth" movement, and Irina Khalip, who is married to Andrei Sannikov of the "For a European Belarus" movement, would be kept under house arrest, the statement said.
    Authorities in Minsk have said the opposition activists could go on trial as early as next month accused of instigating and taking part in mass unrest -- a charge which carries up to 15 years imprisonment.
    Analysts said Minsk had clearly timed the move to complicate the EU's decision to introduce sanctions against the ex-Soviet republic.
    EU foreign ministers are expected to agree on Monday (January 31) in Brussels to re-impose visa bans that were suspended by the EU in 2008 to encourage reforms in the ex-Soviet republic.
    The EU imposed travel sanctions and froze assets of Lukashenko and other Belarus officials in 2006 after his last re-election which also led to street protests. The financial measures remain in place and more are likely to be introduced, according to an EU diplomat speaking on Friday (January 28).
    Diplomats said the EU will also not hold any talks with Minsk over a financial assistance program for reforms for now.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
Register