E/CN.4/2000/9 page 30 been initiated in relation to the police exceeding their authority. It is reported that the procuracy dropped the investigation in June 1997. Another investigation following the lodging of a complaint by the Belarusian Association of Journalists demanding a criminal investigation was also reportedly closed. 130. Vladimir Yukho, a senior BPF member, was reportedly arrested on 24 February 1998 during a court hearing. Several persons who could not attend the hearings were reportedly waiting outside the court building. He reportedly grabbed the arm of a riot policeman who was allegedly about to push a woman down some stairs. The policeman reportedly grabbed him and dragged him to a police minibus with sliding doors parked nearby. According to the information received, when he was put in the vehicle, Vladimir Yukho's hand was slammed in the door. On the way to the police station, a senior police officer, a major and the deputy head of the Minsk Leninsky District Police Department allegedly choked him so severely that his neck was bruised. He was later reportedly charged with breaching articles 166 and 167 of the Administrative Code. On 24 February 1998 he reportedly filed an official complaint with the regional prosecutor. On 9 April, he was reportedly fined 5 million rubles by the Minsk Leninsky District Court for participating in an unauthorized demonstration and for resisting arrest. 131. On 17 October 1999, a coalition of opposition political parties and nongovernmental organizations are said to have organized a rally in central Minsk calling for democracy, freedom of speech and Belarusian independence. A deep cordon of special riot police ("OMON") in helmets and blue camouflage uniforms and equipped with shields and clubs, reportedly blocked the street. According to the information received, a dozen riot policemen then started to beat the demonstrators, who reportedly began to pelt these officers with stones which happened to be lying at the nearby construction site. Some demonstrators were reportedly arrested and taken back to the police line where they were allegedly severely beaten and kicked. Around 90 demonstrators were subsequently taken into police custody, where they were allegedly beaten. Detainees were reportedly forced to stand with their legs and arms apart and were severely beaten and kicked by OMON officers with night sticks. Women were reportedly threatened with rape. Volodya Chernaev, a Social Democratic Party activist, is said to have been arrested and to have been taken to the Partizanzky police station. During the transfer, he and others who had been arrested at the same time were allegedly punched and beaten with night sticks. They were also allegedly threatened with being taken to the forest where they would be killed. Some of the people detained are said to have filed complaints with their district prosecutors. Urgent appeals and replies received 132. On 10 March 1999, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal in conjunction with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression and opinion on behalf of Viktor Gonchar, an opposition leader who reportedly suffered a heart attack in prison on 5 March 1999. The prison authorities have allegedly refused to hospitalize him. He was reportedly being forcibly fed by prison officials, having commenced a hunger strike just after he was sentenced on 1 March 1999, in order to protest his imprisonment. He and 15 other members of the opposition were reportedly detained on 25 February 1999 during a peaceful meeting in a café. On 15 March 1999, the Special Rapporteur received further information, according to which he was released on 11 March 1999.