Three charged with staging Jan 10 protest

Mikhail Kryvau, Mikhail Pashkevich and Uladzimir Syarheyeu, the youth activists from the Young Demograts group of the United Civic Party, today were charged in a criminal case opened against the organizers of the protest of entrepreneurs in downtown Minsk on January 10. The rally was not authorized by the city authorities.

Belapan reports that the young men were today summoned for an interogation to the Minsk City Police Department and were later formalled charged.

They are charged with taking an active part "in collective actions which violated grossly the public order". All the three youngsters made a written undertaking not to leave the country.

A total of 12 people are under investigation in the criminal case associated with the January 10 protest. Andrei Kim has remained in a police custody since January 31.