Homiel Citizens Defend Youth Leaders

The Movement for Freedom (the MFF) activists Uladzimir Katsora, Zinaida Shumilina, and Leanid Sudalenka sent personal appeals to the General Prosecutor’s Office on the fact of kidnapping of youth activists in Belarus. Kidnapping of youth activists Zmitsier Dashkievich, Artur Finkievich, Nasta Palazhanka, and Dzianis Karnou occurred in the recent weeks. The Homiel activists ask to investigate these facts and to initiate criminal proceedings.

“These actions of the authorities reflects their weakness. The strong people don’t behave like this”, Zinaida Shumilina comments on her step. “Nevertheless, we should not remain mere observers – they could grab anyone of us and take to some forest. We should force the authorities to answer for their actions”.

According to Uladzimir Katsora, each honest person should react to the pressure aiming to the youth leaders:

“It’s clear who stands behind these kidnappings. And the talk is not about the lack of protection of Belarusian citizens on the behalf of the state. One shouldn’t forget both Dashkievich and Finkievich are the leaders of the organizations which are in the coalition with the MFF. Therefore, the MFF members should be the first to start the campaign for the defence of our allies”.

Leanid Sudalenka thinks that militia’s inactivity in this case proves the authorities are interested in such kidnappings:

“These cases are the acts of intimidation of the democratic leaders”, Lieanid Sudalienka thinks. “I support the campaign of solidarity with the victims. The fact that the militia do nothing to find and punish the guilty persons shows that the authorities themselves are interested in this.

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