The unraveling repression against social activists in Belarus indicate the exacerbation of the pre-election hysteria of the Lukashenko government. The hunt for activists started on the same day as the dead body of Aleh Byabenin, the editor of the oppositional news site, was found.

On the 3rd of September seven people were arrested: Bogachek Igor, Khotina Valeria, Slusar Serge, Dedok Nicholas, Zhingerovsky Alexei, Franzkevich Alexander and Laptenok Anton. The cause for their arrest was the Molotov cocktail attack on the Russian Embassy in Minsk on the 30th of August. The previously unknown anarchist group, group Freedom Friends, took responsibility for the attack, claiming it was a solidarity action for the defenders of the Khimki forest. There is no shared opinion on the Freedom Friends group though many people consider them as a provocation of the KGB.

The following days three more people were arrested: Tatiana Seminischeva, Vladimir Volodin and Alexander Bugaev. At this time there are 10 detainees,except Alexandr Bugaev all of them are social activists who participate in various social and ecological movements and hold anarchist views.

Almost every day house-searches are conducted in the flats of activists, interrogations are happening in Minsk and other cities (Homiel, Harodnia, Salihorsk). The detention terms of those arrested on the 3rd of September was already prolonged two times, today (11.09) the detention terms of those arrested on the 8th of Septermber were prolonged too. So far no official accusations have been lodged.

The fact that the detainees are suspected of more and more cases (the arson of the door of the bank, the attack on the Trade Union House and the arson of the ATM that happened this spring) is evidence that the investigation has no real accusations to bring against them. So they are trying to discredit the detainees and present them as simple criminals, saying that ball cartridges and plant-based drugs were found during the house-check. However, this is not the first time the authorities have used this method: after the previous elections in 2006, during the protests in the tent city on the main square syringes and porno magazines were «found».

According to Valentin Stefanovich, a human rights advocate, the rights of the detainees are blatantly violated. Not being able to withstand the pressure during interrogation one of the girls cut her palms with an office knife. For 4th days now, there is still no exact information about the current situation of those detained on the 3rd of Septermber.

As is known, there are no borders for solidarity. We call out for actions everywhere because we really need your support! What can you do? Spread the information about the situation and bring up the discussion in various circles, organize demos and write letters to the Belarusian Embassies in your country. And, of course, we would be grateful for financial support (as quite a lot of money is needed for lawyers). You can donate money through Moscow ABC with a note "for Minsk" - http://wiki.golosa.info/en/index.php/Donate

Watch for updates here: http://belarus.indymedia.org/blog/minsksolidarity. For more information you can always contact us: minsksolidarity[at]riseup.net

Thank you,

Friends and relatives of those arrested (Minsk, Belarus)