By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
MINSK, Belarus – On Wednesday police arrested 30 activists who were involved in a peaceful opposition rally in central square of Belarus’s capital city, Minsk. Approximately 50 people had gathered to mark the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of Viktor Gonchar and Anatoly Krasovsky, political opposition leaders.
After surrounding the group of protesters, who were made up primarily of students, riot police pushed those who had gathered out of the square. During the incident a number of protesters were hit by the police, who used clubs to arrest those that did not leave the square. The police also attempted to prevent the journalists at the scene from taking pictures. Some photographers, who were recording the incident, were beaten by the police. They were threatened by police if they did not delete what they had recorded. Among those arrested was Mikalai Statkevich, a leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party.
In recent months the European Union has called upon Belarus to improve its protection of basic democratic freedom. The president of the EU issued a statement on Thursday, urging Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to “refrain from the use of force in dealing with peaceful demonstrations and to ensure that representatives of independent media are able to perform their tasks without interference.” Lukashenko, who has held the office since 1994, has been accused of ruling Belarus in an authoritarian manner. In recent years Lukashenko has been labeled by the United States as “Europe’s last dictator.”
Wednesday’s incident involving protesters and state police comes on the heels of other recent protests in the capital city. On September 9, 20 people were detained by police while protesting the close military relationship that Belarus has developed with Russia.
The whereabouts of Gonchar and Krasovksy are still unknown. The state investigation into their disappearance was closed in 2003.
For more information, please see:
BELARUS NEWS – EU expresses concern over police crackdown on demonstration in Minsk – 18 Septemeber 2009
DEMOCRATIC BELARUS – Belarus Police Beat, Detain 36 Opposition Protestors – 17 September 2009
EARTHTIMES – Belarus cops smash ‘disappeared’ person memorial march – 17 September 2009
RADIO FREE EUROPE – Belarus: Police break up protest, make arrests – 17 September 2009
AFP – Belarus police beat, detain 30 opposition – 16 September 2009
REUTERS – Belarus police break up anti-Russia protest – 9 September 2009
