400 People in Belarus Are Arrested for Applause

Suits against people arrested in Independence Day on July, 3^rd pass across all Belarus. According to legal experts, at least 390 people were detained in Belarus: approximately 210 people - in Minsk, nearby 180 - in regions. More than a hundred people already passed court practice. The overwhelming majority is sentenced to administrative arrests for 5-15 days. The most mass after Minsk detentions took place in Gomel, Grodno and Mogilyov.

Militia and people in civilian arrested people for applauses in Independence Day. Brute force and tear gas were applied against activists.

Militia didn't allow the Byelorussians to muffle Alexander Lukashenko's speech by applause during military parade which took place on Sunday morning. Thus they broke up tacit protest which opposition planned through social networks.

The Belorussian authorities should abstain from excessive application of force against participants of peace protest actions. It's stated in the application of the International Human Rights Activist Organization Amnesty International made in relation to dispersal of protest demonstrations in Belarus on June, 3rd.

It's also noticed in the application that social services "Twitter" and "Facebook" were blocked in the day of protest action. "Tear gas was applied against the group of protesters who occupied the square near railway station, militia beat participants of the action all over the city, - Amnesty International affirms. - Agents of special services who were dressed in civilian and didn't show any documents without any explanation of the detention reasons participated in arrests".

The Belorussian authorities continue to show total neglect to human rights and present events show that the given policy only amplifies. Such opinion was stated by the head of the department of Europe and Central Asia of Amnesty International John Dalyusen: "Attempt to block communication medium had the purpose to cut off demonstrators from each other and was the roughest infringement of freedom of expressions".

"Suppression of peace protests won't help understanding of the basic problems of their participants which are directly connected with current economic situation, - Daljusen told. - "Questions of meeting economic requirements can't be forced out by means of restriction of civil and political rights. Peace protesters shouldn't be exposed to detentions, security forces shouldn't use violence against them violence and all arrested persons should be released immediately".

- I have a question to the Belorussian courts, - editor-in-chief of FORUM.msk Anatoly Baranov marks. - Even in such state as Belarus should observe some procedure, some visibility of legality. For example, whether it's a crime or offense if a person clapped hands or turned his back to the national leader during his epoch-making speech? Whether it's the same as in Moscow participants of "Strategy-31" are applied forged reports with faked offenses like swearing in a public place or occupying traffic road? Then what's the difference between adored by our patriots and left Lukashenko and Putin? He is only taller...

"I already don't have any questions to Lukashenko, - Anatoly Baranov continued. - If he is such super-popular leader and the father of the nation for whom everybody in the country votes, then why he is afraid that few hundreds persons will start clapping hands or turn their back to him? Or his personal power which he has been building for 17 years is in reality so weak that it can collapse from loud claps? Than whether he differs from some Turkmen dictator - only because potato is cheap in his country? Let's note that gas in Ashkhabad is in general free of charge as well as matches and salt. If to trust the results of elections all are simply happy, some are even more than simply very happy. Though if Alexander Grigorevich (or the one who gives him advises) decided to show weakness of power to the whole world, who "kindles" then? Opposition or the national leader himself?"

- Now a little about achievements of Lukashenko's mode which, according to some people, the Byelorussians need to hold tight on with both hands, teeth and other parts, - Anatoly Baranov continues. - In 1963-1964 life expectancy of the Byelorussians didn't concede to the majority of the most developed countries. On the average men lived about 69 years, women - 76-77 years. Now death rate both among men and women in Belarus is considerably higher than in 1964. If then the risk of death for women before 60 years made 11,5% and 25.5% for men, in 2010 it grew to 13,2% and 37,8% accordingly, now it's not better than similar indicators of Russia and Ukraine. Expected life expectancy at birth makes in Belarus 63,6 for men, 75,4 years - for women. If in 1989 in Belarus lived 10151806 people, by 2009 only 9503807 remained. 650 thousand of clear loss of population - 6,5% for 20 years, 15 of them Lukashenko is at the wheel. More than once I wrote and told that growth of life expectancy and total population growth are basic indicators of success of board. If people die out, it is useless to show off using different indexes, percent of growth of gross national product, prices for cottage cheese, potato and so on. So, where's boasted success of social and economic of Lukashenko's model? Unless on country churchyards... Perhaps the Belorussian dictator should forbid not only to clap during his speeches but also to cry on funerals? Why not - let everybody rejoice.

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