Criminal persecution of protest action participants continues

27.02.2008. Tags: entrepreneurs, actions, criminal persecution.

The human rights center "Viasna" found out, investigation department of Minsk city police had created an investigation group for investigation of the criminal case on the January 10th entrepreneurs’ unsanctioned mass action in Minsk. The criminal case is instigated under two articles of the Criminal Code: Article 342 part 1 of the Criminal Code -- “Organization or active participation in group actions that seriously violate public order”, and Article 339 part 2 “Hooliganism committed by a group of people or connected with resistance”.

At present moment the following activists are suspected:

Mikhas Pashkevich
Tatsiana Tsishkevich
Mikhas Subach
Ales Charnyshou
Ales Straltsou
Paval Vinahradau
Aliaksei Bondar
Aliaksandr Barazenka
Maksim Dashuk
Uladzimir Siarheyeu
Mikhas Kryvau

Earlier all those activists were sentenced to administrative arrests for up to 15 days for participation in the entrepreneurs’ rally. Tatsiana Tsishkevich, the only girl in this group, served 20 days in jail.

Interrogations began yesterday, February 26th. Siarheyeu and Kryvau received statements that they were recognized suspects in the case. Straltsou could not come to interrogation because of his illness.

The other 10 people from the list are summoned to the investigation department of Minsk city police for February 28th.

It is worth reminding the readers about another criminal case under investigation. Three participants of the European March are suspected under Article 339 part 2 of the Criminal Code (“Hooliganism”). Maksim Siarhiyets, Lilia Subach, and Matvei Bialiay are suspected of damaging two police cars during the rally, causing losses of 8, 691,879 BYR (around 4, 300 USD).