A Belarusian opposition leader has been detained "brutally" by police in a town some 110 kilometers east of the capital of Minsk and charged with illegally distributing printed material.
Anatol Lyabedzka, leader of the opposition United Civic Party (AHP), and two associates were taken into police custody in Krupki on June 2.
Speaking to RFE/RL, an AHP spokeswoman accused the police of brutality when arresting Lyabedzka, and Dzyanis Krasochka, a party activist, and Henadz Veratsinski, a photographer.
Hanna Krasulina said the three were facing charges of illegally distributing printed materials.
According to Krasulina, Lyabedzka was in Krupki to try to organize a public roundtable discussion on how to tackle local unemployment.
Lyabedzka has been fined and briefly jailed several times in the past for his opposition activities.
