Hanna Horojenko is already released and reported to be at the Ukrainian embassy.
I remember I nearly got addicted to Channel 5 during the Orange Revolution. This channel is one of those things, which I really miss in the States. And gosh, I remember Hanna – she was one of those unforgettable faces during the colorful events of the year gone by.
Listening to this terrifying sound recording (I suggest that each one of you should take a listen) I thought that this horrific regime, accusing us – journalists, members of nonprofit organizations, students – of discrediting Belarus, all by themselves, discredits our nation to the fullest. It’s weird when you go to a foreign country, and somebody might associate you with Lukashenka who, technically, is the face of the nation. But once it is so, how many times do we have to blush when we hear something like Horojenko’s live arrest in Minsk? How many times do we have to be discredited, dishonored by this brutal repressive system?

Charter 97 reported that, after Milinkevich’s meeting with voters in Minsk, 20 people were arrested, including Ukrainians – Channel 5’s journalists, representatives of political parties and NGO’s. Photo and info taken from Charter 97’s website.

A Ukrainian journalist of Channel 5, Anna Harazhenka, was detained amidst her live phone report from Milinkevich’s meeting. Right as she was on the line, she began crying that she was arrested and dragged to a police car.
RFE\RL’s article in Belarusian. And you can listen to this shocking audiotape from Channel 5.

Stephen B. Nix, Regional Program Director for Eurasia at the International Republican Institute (IRI), testified before the United States Helsinki Commission, chaired by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS).
In particular, he said:

The situation in Belarus is dire, but the beacon of hope in Belarus is shining. In the midst of repeated human rights violations and continual repression of freedoms, a coalition of pro-democratic activists has emerged and united to offer a voice for the oppressed…It is vitally important that the United States and Europe remain committed to their support of this democratic coalition; not only in the run up to the election, but post-election as well.

Read the entire press release at IRI’s website.

The day gone by brought a bit of optimism, as Milinkevich enjoyed full house in Brest during his meeting with voters in a trade union culture palace. The auditorium was so packed with people that some stood in the aisles and many had to listen to the contender’s speech in the lobby. According to BelaPAN’s estimates, around 3,000 residents of Brest had an opportunity to listen to the opposition leader.
Milinkevich’s campaign manager Siarhiej Kalakin was up north, in the town of Hlybokaje where he spoke to voters in a local culture hall. The auditorium was packed, and according to my friend, who attended, Kalakin did a great job and with a help of the crowd masterly parried questions and remarks of a notorious pro-Lukashenka MP, Vasily Khrol, who was also present among a few other officials.
Kazulin and Haidukevich visited Vitebsk. The former was able to gather about 800 people, despite informational leaflets about the action had been torn down around the city, as reported by RFE\RL.
But the most interesting piece of news from today, in my opinion, was reported by a British newspaper. Alaksandar Milinkevich told the Sunday Telegraph that he may decide as early as tomorrow to withdraw from the race in protest at the government’s systematic abuse of the opposition and its supporters, including the arrest of more than 200 of his party workers over the past year. “We will consider boycotting these elections if state repression against us increases. Only yesterday 10 members of my team were sentenced to 15 days in jail by two courts in Minsk, ensuring they will not be able to participate in the election,” said Mr Milinkevich during a rural campaign stop near Brest, close to the country’s western border with Poland. Read the full story.
But remember I told you about Milinkevich’s meeting in Brest. Let me quote BelaPAN:

While speaking to an estimated crowd of 3,000, the 58-year-old Milinkevich stressed that he was not going to drop his presidential bid “despite the fact that it is already known how many votes [the candidates] will get.” “I will fight to the end,” he stressed.

So what should we expect? May this campaign have a surprise ending if both Milinkevich and Kazulin withdraw their candidacies?