Minsk resumes arrests of opposition leaders

Minsk resumes arrests of opposition leaders
Vladimir Neklyaev Belarusian opposition leader of the Belarus National Congress in Minsk / tut.by
By bne IntelliNews September 28, 2017

Following arrests of participants in the spring protests, the authorities have resumed arrests as punishment for participating in street protests in addition to fines, which for some time were the only punishment for political activity.

On September 22nd, 2017, the riot police detained the Belarusian National Congress (BNC) leader Nikolai Statkevich; the opposition politician was placed in a detention centre on Akrestin street in Minsk.

On the same day, after seven days in jail, another BNC leader, Vladimir Neklyaev, was released. He was charged with organising a street protest on September 8th against the Zapod2017 exercises, organised by Russia, in which Belarus participated.

Other participants in the protest have been fined too. The authorities are likely to continue to use fines and arrests against political activists to punish their protest activity.

 

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