BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/08/2007

Belarusian Police Detain Actors, Audience At Theater Performance

Police officers on August 22 raided a private house in Minsk hosting a performance of an unregistered theater company called Free Theater, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. Some 50 spectators and actors, including several foreigners, were detained during the raid. Belapan reported on August 23 that the police released "almost all" of the detainees several hours after the raid without bringing any charges against them. It was unclear how many remained in jail. On the night of the raid, Free Theater director Mikalay Khalezin told RFE/RL in a phone call that the detainees were kept in an "unbelievably hot" hall with nothing to drink, and were prevented from using the bathroom. "The police have not yet made any accusations against us," Khalezin said. "But what can they say? Is a performance in a private house really a crime?" JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/08/3-cee/cee-230807.asp