So, according to official sources on September 17th, 2010 in the Gomel region of Belarus, coordinator of the organization committee of this party in Gomel Kastus Zhukovsky was detained by the police. The detention took place during a visit of the Prime Minister of Belarus Mr. Sergei Sidorsky to the region.

According to the testimony of Mr. Zhukouski, the detention took place without any reasons, the detainee received a head injury, was taken to the district hospital and later convicted on charges of disorderly for 10 days of administrative arrest. In prison, Mr. Zhukovsky, who is currently a member of the initiative group to nominate Mr. Vitaly Rymashevsky as candidate for presidency, went on hunger strike in protest against the detention.

Taking into consideration these facts the Association of Christian-Democrats of Eastern Europe drives attention of the Belarusian authorities to the situation with activist of the BCD and is asking for personal assistance of the President of the Republic of Belarus in order to protect civic rights of the representatives of the BCD.

We are sure that respect for democratic freedoms and absence of pressure on the democratic opposition during the start of the presidential campaign in Belarus will be an important step in the process of democratization of Belarus.