Youth activists, M. Statkevich detained in Minsk for EU flags

Prominent opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich today was deatined near the National Library in Minsk when together with Zmitser Dashkevich, the leader of Malady Front, and Yauhen Afnahel, an activist with the Jeans for Freedom movement, he raised EU flags. The European Radio for Belarus reported earlier that the action took place during the officially authorized Labor Day celebrations staged by the pro-governmental Federation of Trade Unions. Belapan notes that Statkevich only managed to congratulate all the present with Labor Day on behalf of the European Coalition.

Radio Svaboda also reports that several youth activists were also detained. The list of detainees includes: Zmitser Khvedaruk, Arthur Finkevich, Alena Makarevich, Pavel Yukhnevich, Ivan Shyla, Alyaksei Yanusheuski, Maxim Sergiyts, Maxim Dashuk, Dzianis Baradzin. Sergits's head was reportedly injured.

They were taken to Pershamaiski district police department in Minsk.