Polish minority in Ivyanets prepare for court battle over Polish House seizure
The unofficial Union of Poles in Belarus today staged an action in Hrodna, with 300 people having attended, organization's activist Andrei Pachobut told the European Radio for Belarus.
The action took place near the building of the Polish House which was seized by the special police in 2005 and handed over to the official Union of Poles. The action aimed to ssupport the Polish minority in Ivyanets. According to Pachobut, the local members of the Union of Poles have been under serious pressure from the authorities. The latter force local activists not to endorse an appeal to the court. Pachobut says: "The point is that the Poles in Ivyanets are collecting signatures so that the Polish House remains the property of the unofficial Union of Poles and that chairperson Teresa Sobal could remain there to run a cultural and educational center".
According to Pachobut, those who sign the appeal are threated to lose jobs.
The action participants called on the participants to arrive in Valozhyn on February 15 where the court hearing will take place. The Polish House was sezied by the police on February 8.
One hour before the action in Hrodna, Andrei Pachobut had been officially warned by the police for preparing an unauthorized action. However, no further consequences have been reported.
The action took place near the building of the Polish House which was seized by the special police in 2005 and handed over to the official Union of Poles. The action aimed to ssupport the Polish minority in Ivyanets. According to Pachobut, the local members of the Union of Poles have been under serious pressure from the authorities. The latter force local activists not to endorse an appeal to the court. Pachobut says: "The point is that the Poles in Ivyanets are collecting signatures so that the Polish House remains the property of the unofficial Union of Poles and that chairperson Teresa Sobal could remain there to run a cultural and educational center".
According to Pachobut, those who sign the appeal are threated to lose jobs.
The action participants called on the participants to arrive in Valozhyn on February 15 where the court hearing will take place. The Polish House was sezied by the police on February 8.
One hour before the action in Hrodna, Andrei Pachobut had been officially warned by the police for preparing an unauthorized action. However, no further consequences have been reported.
