Минск

On 6 September Minsk City Court pronounced the verdict in the criminal case of the so-called "international criminal group". There are 14 anarchists and libertarians, four of whom have left Belarus.

We continue our regular summaries on repressions of anarchists, antifascists, and social activists in Russia, on obstacles which police state creates for our activity.

Several hours left before the official start of the World Hockey Championship 2014 in Belarus. Event that was planned in 2009 during another political thaw between the West and Lukashenko was constantly criticized by human rights and political organizations for support of Lukashenko’s political regime. Many groups called national hockey teams to boycott the championship, however International Federation of Ice Hockey decided once again that sport is standing apart from politics and retained the right for hosting championship in Minsk.

Human Rights Center "Viasna" and the Belarusian Helsinki Committee recognized Ihar Alinevich, Mikalai Dziadok and Aliaksandr Frantskevich as political prisoners of the present regime. The human rights defenders came to this conclusion on the basis of analysis of the so-called “Case of Anarchists”.

The situation in Belarus is now getting closer to the one that was during the elections in December 2010 but now it seems to be more massive and popular.

On the 27th of May, judge Zhanna Khvoynitskaya sentenced the Belarusian anarchists Ihar Alinevich, Mikalaj Dziadok, Aliaksandar Frantskievich, Maxim Vetkin and Yeveni Slivonchik. The young men were accused of a number of political actions, amongst which was the attack against the Russian embassy in Minsk in August of 2010. 

 Ihar Alinevich was accused of attacks against the Russian Embassy and Belarusbank ("Property destruction with intent", statute 218 paragraph 3 of the Belarusian Criminal Codex), an attack against the remand prison of Minsk (also statute 218, paragraph 2), an attack against a Casino and an illegal demonstration at the military headquarters ("Aggravated hooliganism", statute 339 paragraph 2 of Belarusian criminal codex). The prosecutor asked for a 9 year sentence in hard regime, eventually he received 8 years of hard regime (1).    

A powerful explosion in a subway station "Oktyabrskaya" in Minsk 11 April 2011 during the evening rush hour. As a result, killing 12 people, more than 150 were hospitalized. April 12 Chairman of the KGB of Belarus Vadim Zaitsev announced three versions of the terrorist attack in the Minsk metro. "Today we have three versions. The first - to destabilize the situation in Belarus "- said Zaitsev told journalists on Tuesday.

In a few days 2 months since then, as in Moscow, "unknown" was kidnapped by Igor Olinevich . A few days later his parents discovered in the KGB jail, where he was taken in violation of all norms of international law on deportation and extradition. Igor accused of involvement in the attack on the Russian embassy on the night of August 30, 2010 .

Students of the European Humanities University and the Youth Initiative StudAlliance announced an indefinite campaign of solidarity with the student at YSU Nicholas Dedkov, which is already two and a half months is held in custody. About this BelaPAN reported in the press service StudAlliance.

We, anarchists of Belarus and Russia, call to all honest people all over the world for actions of boycott and protest against embassies of Belarus Republic and every other institution related to the Belarusian government! Total mobilization for solidary actions is necessary, because our comrades still remain in chains of Lukashenko fascist regime. Their names: Mikalaj Dziadok and Aliaksandar Frantskievich.

Story of anarchist arrested in Belarus

Sept. 24 officers law enforcement bodies have detained me on suspicion of assault on ITT Akrestin. After three days I was again perearestovali, not letting go even beyond the walls of prison. At this time, were indicted for an attack on the House of Trade Unions. Both of these cases were instituted without any direct evidence. In both protocols, the detention was said that I had been detained "on direct suspicion." As I understand from the conduct of investigators - such as the immediate suspicion may arise in respect of any citizen of our country.

Today, September 12, Minsk law enforcement agencies began to publish the anarchists detained in the case of throwing Molotov cocktails, the Russian Embassy on August 30. Nevertheless, at least five people are still behind bars, charged them and did not show. Indymedia Belarus leads the list of issued and is still held by the activists.

Morning, Sept. 8, 2010 were detained and placed in Akrestsin two more of our friends - Tatiana Semenischeva (which had already been sent home after being detained and searched on September 7) and Vladimir Volodin, the Belarusian anarchist and libertarian activist. Tatiana suspected of involvement in the incident near the Russian Embassy. Vladimir Volodin - to arson door Branch Belarusbank May 1, 2010. As in the previous seven detainees, young people are social activists.

According to Indymedia-Belarus and several other portals criminal investigation into the attack on the Russian Embassy in Minsk turned into a more serious crime. It also reported that despite the fact that the charges were brought against nobody and there is no evidence base, the sentence detained activists extended for another 3 days.

In Minsk on September 6 by a group of anarchists was attacked by Molotov cocktails, a temporary detention facility on Akrestin. After radical action near the Russian embassy repressive organs of the state launched an unprecedented raid on the anarchists and other social activists across the country. Insulators are filled with all new detainees. This is mainly children who have no relation to the radical actions and engaged in peaceful advocacy of their views and participation in social initiatives. Now they sew things and hang all that is possible.

Sept. 3 about 6 o’clock in the morning seven non-government activists were arrested by law enforcement bodies of Belarus. Six of them are held 38 hours in custody in the detention center of Minsk. The detainees were interrogated about their involvement in the pelting Molotov cocktails at the embassy of Russia in Minsk. Young people jointly rent an apartment in one district of Minsk. At 6-20 am a doorbell rang , one of the young
men opened the door and law enforcement officers in civilian clothes immediately burst in the apartment.

Today (3-rd of September 2010) at morning our friends and comrades were kidnapped by police. Six people are missing. We manage to get know about their kidnapping only several hours later from their neighbors which said that unknown people in police uniform took away everybody situating the apartment. Fate of these people is still unknown this moment. Nobody responds to cell telephone calls. Any attempts to get know something about their location in Minsk police departments give no result, cause cops deny any involvement in this event.

Responsibility for the recent attack on the Russian embassy, caused a stir in the press, claimed a group of Belarusian anarchists. We quote the statement posted on the website of Indymedia: In the evening on August 30 a group of anarchists was conducted attack with Molotov cocktails at Russian embassy in Minsk. Was damaged one of the official cars. By this action, we express our anger and protest against the arrests and repression against social activists, who defended forests Khimki Moscow.