Opposition activists detained near Lida
The van, carrying 9 pro-democracy activists from Minsk, including film director Valery Mazynski, United Civil Party spokesperson Katsyaryna Tkachenka, youth activist Franak Vyachorka, singer Zmitser Kazlouski, was stopped by the traffic police near Lida in the Hrodna region of Belarus.
The delegation was heading to Hrodna in the western Belarus to launch a new web site of the United Pro-Democracy Forces and to open three exhibits: a photo exposition "10 Years from One Window" by Andrei Plyasanau, and arts exposition "Belarus's Famous Personalities" by Liliya and Valyantsin Varetsau and Zmitser Shapavalau. The van was stopped on the grounds of safety.
"The police said that our vehicle yesterday was allegedly involved in an accident. We believe that they plan to find leaflets for the Chernobyl March or to disrupt our function in Hrodna", Franak Vyachorka told the European Radio for Belarus on the phone.
The van has been taken for inspection at the Lida police station.
