Civil committee of solidarity with Syarhei Kavalenka created in Vitsebsk

A civil committee of solidarity with an activist of the Christian Democratic Party – BNF Syarhei Kavalenka was created in Vitsebsk on January 11. The co-chairperson of the steering committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Pavel Sevyarynets has informed BelaPAN about it. About 25 people took part in the meeting dedicated to the creation of the civil committee – representatives of various Belarusian democratic parties and civil organizations. The participants of the meeting decided to launch a campaign of solidarity with Kavalenka in Vitsebsk and in other Belarusian cities.   The activists are going to meet near Vitsebsk confinement cell at 11 a.m. on January 16 to congratulate Kavalenka on his 35th birthday. Furthermore, opposition youth activists are going to start a campaign of hoisting white-red-white flags all over the country.

The civil committee has already invited representatives of the European Commission, OSCE office and EU Ambassadors to Vitsebsk to get information about “Kavalenka’s case”. According to preliminary information, representatives of the OSCE will arrive in Vitsebsk on January 19.

They have also started raising money in support of Kavalenka and his family – wife and son. 300 thousand rubles has already been collected.

Let us remind you that 34-year-old Syarhei Kavalenka was detained in Vitsebsk Victory Square on January 7. He is accused of having hoisted a white-red-white flag on a 35-metre tall Christmas Tree. A criminal case for hooliganism that may lead to 6 years of imprisonment has been started against him.