Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Brest: Police detain activists collecting signatures for city authorities’ dismissal

Belsat

Brest: Police detain activists collecting signatures for city authorities’ dismissal
Alyaksandr Kabanau (L), Zmitser Andrasyuk (C), Syarhei Pyatrukhin (R)
On June 24, opponents of the construction of the battery plant near the city continued collecting signatures for the resignation of the heads of Brest region, Brest and Brest district.

The officials gave permission for building IPower battery factory in the vicinity of Brest.

At about 15.00 the police detained activists Zmitser Andrasyuk, Alyaksandr Kabanau, Syarhei Pyatrukhin and Zmitser Bekalyuk.

“We were detained, taken to Leninski district police department and questioned,” Alyaksandr Kabanau told Belsat.

A bit later, all the activists were released.

On May 11, Leninski district court imposed a fine of BYN 490 on Andrasyuk; Pyatrukhin and Kabanau were fined BYN 1,225 each.

Since February, many Brest residents keep coming to the central square to feed pigeons on Sundays. In such a manner, they express their deepest indignation against the construction of the battery plant since the city authorities fail to authorise conventional rallies.

Although hundreds of people showed up at the first feedings, since the beginning of summer a protest wave has been going down. 35 persons were present at the latest event.

A Chinese company is building the battery plant at a rapid pace near Brest. The work of the plant can cause severe damage to human health due to lead emissions within a radius of 30 kilometers. Lead dust from production may provoke many serious diseases, including cancer. 40,000 Belarusians signed the petition against the plant. However, the authorities have not listened to the voice of the people.