Public Committee to Protect Siarhei Parsiukevich Is Created

09.02.2008. Tags: entrepreneurs, political persecution, For Freedom, provocation.
Source: RFE/RL.

The establishment of the public committee for protection of the activist of For Freedom! movement Siarhei Parsiukevich was announced to independent journalists by the local activist Khrystafor Zhaliapau.

Mr. Zhaliapau reminded that Siarhei Parsiukevich had applied to the prosecutor of Maskouski district of Minsk concerning the incident that took place in Akrestsina jail while he had been serving his 15-day arrest for participation in the meeting of entrepreneurs on 10 December.

In Parsiukevich’s application it was stated that on 21 January, on the 8th day of arrest, he was beaten by a prison guard, who then accused Parsiukevich in assault on him.

After the end of the prison term, on 28 January, the activist was directed for forensic expertise to register the beating. At the same time he was warned about the possibility of criminal punishment for assault on policeman. In this case the activist faces six years of jail as maximal punishment.

Siarhei Parsiukevich considers this incident as a provocation. This opinion is shared by his Vitsebsk friends, who decided to establish the committee for his protection. The committee intends to apply to the Prosecutor General’s Office and ask the entrepreneurs and public circles of Vitsebsk for support.