Milinkevich Arrested!
Alexander Milinkevich was arrested today in the morning at the office of an independent newspaper and, about two hours ago, Lukashenka’s “justice” system decided to sentence him to a 14-day arrest for organizing an “illegal” Chernobyl protest.
In my opinion, this is the most crucial point after the “elections”. If this arrest of the leader produces big enough outcry in the West and strong enough reaction inside the country, we’ll be able to say that Belarus has a new alternative leader. Otherwise, he’ll probably rot in jail (together with mister Kazulin), and Belarus will rot and decompose for another five years at least.
April 27th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
[…] I was giving a presentation on Belarus right as the Chernobyl March was starting. At that point, nobody knew where Labedska was – some feared it was another political disappearance in the country. At night Labedzka, leader of the United Civil Party, was released from the KGB. The agents interrogated him as part of “their investigation of a criminal case of terrorism.” In fact, they were interested with foreign travels of the politician. Labedzka told RFERL, “As I see it now, having analyzed everything what happened yesterday, it was such a demonstrative detention – as if I were a felon, a renegade, I was put face down to the pavement, cuffed and beaten up to the kidneys. Then I was thrown into my car. I didn’t know where they were taking me because they pulled a jacket onto my head so that I wouldn’t see anything.” At the finale of the march, Vincuk Viacorka, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, was arrested. A bit later, Siarhiej Kalakin, leader of the Belarusian Communist Party, Alexander Bukhvostau, trade union leader, and Alaksandar Milinkevich himself were imprisoned. Most of them were sentenced to 15 days of arrest, including the opposition leader. Milinkevich commented on his arrest, “The government cannot and does not want to act in accordance with the law. It wasn’t an unsanctioned meeting. We’ve taken part in an approved event. When the schedule shifted, it wasn’t our fault. When we moved out to the thoroughfare, the sidewalk was blocked. There are no reasons for a trial. These are political cases. When the prosecutor’s office warned me, I told them, “Let us arrange the passage so that people could go unhampered.” But they cannot live without fear. They are so scared. They want to intimidate us, but rather fear themselves.” A fellow blogger, Br23, wrote, This is the most crucial point after the “elections”. If this arrest of the leader produces big enough outcry in the West and strong enough reaction inside the country, we’ll be able to say that Belarus has a new alternative leader. Otherwise, he’ll probably rot in jail (together with mister Kazulin), and Belarus will rot and decompose for another five years at least. […]
April 27th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
[…] Belarus bloggers react to the news of Aleksandr Milinkevich’s arrest: Andrei Khrapavitski points out that “today practically all the key names of the Belarusian oppositions have appeared on prison rolls;” TOL’s Belarus Blog sees this as “the biggest test for Belarusian people after the falsified presidential election;” and br23 blog writes that this is “the most crucial point“: “If this arrest of the leader produces big enough outcry in the West and strong enough reaction inside the country, we’ll be able to say that Belarus has a new alternative leader. Otherwise, he’ll probably rot in jail (together with mister Kazulin), and Belarus will rot and decompose for another five years at least.” […]
April 27th, 2006 at 10:31 pm
[…] A blog entry about Milinkevich’s arrest - also has a comment from Andrei Khrapavitski, a Belarusian American giving a presentation right as the Chernobyl march was starting […]
April 27th, 2006 at 11:19 pm
Nice that you are mentioned a few times :) To be honest… I saw this report on a link you posted earlier about Chernobyl… I was hoping it was just a rumor but I see it’s the truth. Really wonder how something being held annually can be something illegal.. I guess people are not allowed to grief and rethink on things that happened… Logic of a madman… a scared madman I should add.
April 28th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
[…] Milinkevich, Gesicht der Opposition in Weissrussland, wurde verhaftet. Europa sollte auf den Strassen sein! Ich denke wir sollten eine Kundgebungung organisieren. Hätte jemand Interesse daran? Und wüsste jemand wie man so etwas halbwegs professionell organisiert? […]
April 29th, 2006 at 2:11 am
Found this in my email:
Speaking at the rally near the Academy of Sciences, Milinkevich said the opposition would remove Lukashenka from power in two years: “We know how to do this. There is no need to wait for five
years for us, we will eliminate the regime and will oust [President Alyaksandr] Lukashenka from power. This is our goal. We will overcome!”
“We are not rabble, we are the people! Long live Belarus! Long live Belarus! Long live Belarus!” Milinkevich said. Milinkevich announced that another rally would be held on May 1, a national holiday in Belarus.
Really want to believe his words…
April 29th, 2006 at 3:04 am
Божа, выведзі зь цямніцы яго; хай прыйдзе прад аблічча Тваё стогн вязьня; магутнасьцю сілы Тваёй захавай асуджаных; заступіся за справу іхную; не забудзь прыгнечаных на Беларусі.
Boža, vyviedzi ź ciamnicy jaho; chaj pryjdzie prad abličča Tvajo stohn viaźnia; mahutnaściu siły Tvajoj zachavaj asudžanych; zastupisia za spravu jichnuju; nie zabudź pryhniečanych na Biełarusi.
God, lead him out of prison; let the groan of the imprisoned come before Your face; by the might of Your power preserve the condemned; defend their cause; do not forget the oppressed in Belarus.
April 29th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Nice prayer :)
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Thanks for sharing
February 7th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well. But it was interesting! Look for some my links:
March 24th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well.