Participants of Solidarity Action with Charlie Hebdo Face Trials
On January 21, the police drew up administrative report against Pauliuk Kanavalchyk – for his participation in the action of solidarity “Je Suis Charlie” near the French Embassy in Minsk.
Pauliuk Kanavalchyk, former editor of satirical newspaper Navinki, was detained on January 21 near his home. The police officers presented him photos of him at the solidarity action and, in his presence, drew up the administrative report under art. 23.34 (participation in an unsanctioned mass event).
“It was a part of a global action of support with the journalists of the magazine Charlie Hebdo, which was held on January 11 in many cities of the world. Navinki was quite similar with Charlie in nature, and we could not but join the global movement. Moreover, many people before that had expressed their solidarity near the French Embassy in Minsk, and put flowers and lit candles at the entrance to the Embassy,” says Pauliuk Kanavalchyk.
Nearly at the same time, another participant of this very action, leader of the united Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka received a phone call inviting him to appear at the police. He asked for an official summons.
All participants of the solidarity action call the cases absurd, as even Aliaksandr Lukashenko had spoken his condolences to the President of France and to the French people. And the Belarus’s ambassador to France Pavel Latushka had taken part in the action in Paris on January 11.
It should be mentioned also that a little before, on January 19, the Minster of Information Liliya Ananich, at a press-conference to BelTA, expressed her disapproval of such actions and spoke of possible reaction.
“It is inadmissible that people are killed. And it is not important what the motives were for the terrorists. Terrorism is unacceptable. But I always analyze what has served as a reason. In 2005 – 2006 one Belarusian mass medium published the caricature of Mohammed, and there was a very tough adequate reaction of the Belarus state. It was unpopular with particular people. The persons responsible for the publication were punished. The court decision – three years of freedom restriction – in practice ended up with three months. This is tough. But, on the other side, the state must nip in the bud all manifestations of extremism.
Like majority of Belarusians, I did not have a possibility to follow creative activities of the French weekly. But I think, there was a desire to walk on the razor’s edge. As practice showed, it ended up with a people’s tragedy. And we mourn for the dead, we are against terrorist acts. But we always should think about how our word will resonate.
Now we will analyze the reaction of our particular mass media. Some mass media also published the caricatures, as a sign of solidarity. But was it necessary? What caricatures? I think there should be a public assessment, public reprimand. All power should be used in order to disallow terrorism in whatever country.
Seven million copies of the weekly to commemorate the perished – this is good, from the point of view of circulation. But these seven million will also wake up the beast in someone. And this is bad already. My attitude to such manifestations, like terrorism, murders of journalists, is strictly negative – as for any normal citizen, a human. But journalists should take into account public and state interests in their professional activities. And this is also my standing as of a citizen, a human, a Minister.”