3 Polish minority activists released from police custody

Three activists of the unofficial Union of Poles in Belarus were on Saturday morning released from a police detention center in Hrodna. Those freed were Andzrej Pachobut, Miachyslau Yskevich and union's spokesman Ihar Bantsar. On February 10 they were among the organizers of an unauthorized demonstration in support of the Polish House in the twon of Ivyanets in the Minsk region. The picket took place on Hrodna. Pachobut, Yaskevich and Bantsar were sentenced on February 15 to five days of arrest.

Bantsar told naviny.by that he was on a hunger strike during the whole five days of his arrest. He was released in the morning one hour before the arrest time expired. Pachobut was released three hours earlier and Yaskevich -- five hours earlier. That's why nobody welcomed us", Bantsar said.