Oppositionist's son beaten after threats from Russian nationalists in Vitsebsk

Unidentified gangsters on October 29 attacked a 18-year-old young man whose father Jan Dzyarzhautsau, a member of the Belarusian Popular Front, received a letter with threats from the unregistered organization RNE (Russian Nationa Unity).  The letter came in August and wrote that Dzyarzhautsau, referred to as "Miron", would be punished if yet another white-red-white flag would appear in the city again. Similar threat letters were received by three more opposition activists.

Dzyarzhautsau sought help from police, but the latter did not search for RNE members on the grounds that this organization was not registered in Belarus.

On October 29, a white-red-white flag appeared on one of the house in Vitsebsk. Thirty minutes later, Aliaksandr Dzyarzhautsau was beaten by two assaulters. The young man was not robbed. The attackers did not say anything either.

Yadviga Stasheuskaya, ERB, Vitsebsk