Before the world hockey championship preventive detentions are unfolding in Minsk

Recently a lot of social and political activists were arrested and detained in Minsk.

All in all about 15 opposition activists were arrested on the threshold of the Ice Hockey World Championship (IHWC) in Minsk.

Mikhail Muski, Andrey Tsyanuta, and Mikola Dzemidzenka were sentenced to prison term between 10 and 20 days on May 6, three days before the IHWC's opening in the Belarusian capital. All three were found guilty of minor hooliganism and resisting police, RFE/RL reports.

Last week, several other youth activists were sentenced to jail terms between 15 and 25 days on similar charges. Thus, the leader of the unregistered Youth Front political movement, Zmitser Dashkevich, was sent to jail for 25 days last week as well for violation of his parole.

According to UCP leader Anatol Liabedzka, the police are also trying to detain activist Zmitser Kavalhin, and Yuliya Stsyapanava reported that Serzhuk Kazakou has been detained as well, Euroradio informs. One more Young Front activist, Zmicier Kramianetski, is to stand trial in Minsk's Leninski District Court.

Belarusan police, though, claim they know nothing about preventive detentions. It was announced by the head of the public order department of the Belarusian MIA Ivan Kubrakou at a press conference on May 6.

Let us recall that EuroBelarus Information Service published an appeal of the human rights fighters timed to the IHWC, in which human rights organizations, foundations and initiatives called “on Belarus’ leaders and citizens to take decisive steps towards making Belarus an open and democratic country”.