Police Detain Opposition Activist In Belarus

Franak Vyachorka in July 2006

MINSK -- Police in Minsk have detained a leader of the unregistered youth wing of the Belarusian Popular Front (BNF) movement.

Franak Vyachorka was forcibly placed in a police car right after he left his apartment in the morning. He managed to use his mobile phone to inform his colleagues about his being pushed into the car.

His friends and relatives told RFE/RL that his whereabouts are unknown at this point.

Vyachorka is known as one of Belarus's leading opposition activists, and has been detained and tried for his political activities in the past.