At least 12 women were detained in Navapolack on April 23. Arrests were also reported in other cities — Barysau, Slonim, Brest and Zhodzina, “Viciebskaya Viasna” reported.
In Navapolack, security forces carried out searches, took several people to a pre-trial detention center in Viciebsk, and interrogated the others in Navapolack. Of the 12 detainees, eight were released the same day. One woman was found to be subscribed to “extremist” resources. She was kept in custody for three days and on Monday was fined. As of April 28, two detainees remained behind bars. All the women were required to sign non-disclosure and travel restriction agreements.
According to several sources, the detentions are linked to the designation of a number of cultural initiatives as “extremist formations.”
Three detainees were also reported in Barysau, as well as several in Slonim, Brest and Zhodzina.
It was reported on April 24 that “Belaruskaya Rada Kultury,” the projects “Magistrat,” “Osminog,” “ArtPower Belarus,” “Fond Soveta po Kultury Belarusi,” and “Inshyya” had been designated as “extremist formations” by the KGB, according to a decision reported earlier.
