Anarchists detained for throwing paint at BT office

Two anarchists, a young man and a woman were detained in Minsk on June 13. They are suspected of throwing paint at the office of the Belarusian State Broadcasting Company. The detained are in Minsk Pershamaiski District Department of the Interior now. The flats of two other people have been searched, the human rights website Viasna reports.

A criminal case for repeated hooliganism involving a group of people has been started against the anarchists. They are facing up to 6 years of imprisonment, human rights defenders say.

The names of the detained have not been announced because their relatives do not want it now, human rights defender Nasta Loika told tut.by.

This situation resembles the so-called ‘graffitists’ case’, she thinks: they were accused of throwing paint at banners depicting policemen. That is why the charges may be changed to damage to property. Then the detained will be facing up to 3 months of imprisonment.

Paint was thrown at the door of the BT office on June 9. Anarchists protested against ‘state propaganda’ this way.