Pavel Vinahradau sentenced to 7 days of arrest
Judge of the Maskouski District Court Aliaksandr Kostrykau found former political prisoner, activist of the civil campaign “Tell The Truth!” Pavel Vinahradau guilty of committing an administrative offence under Article 17.1 of the Administrative Code of Belarus, BelaPAN news agency reports.
On 30 December, Vinahradau
was summoned to the Maskouski district police department at 1 pm “for a
conversation”. According to him, policemen behaved as if they did not know what
they should do with him. After a conversation policemen said they needed to
draw up a report, which is usually used during interrogation of a witness or a
suspect. Vinahradau stopped answering his phone for some time. The activist
then said he was accused of swearing and he may be taken into custody. He spent
three days, including the New Year’s Eve, in the delinquents’ isolation center in
Akrestsin Street.
A police officer, summoned to court as a witness, said Vinahradau had sworn
near the Maskouski District Police Department on 30 December.
Judge Kostrykau sentenced Vinahradau to 7 days in custody on the base of
policeman’s evidence and the police report. Pavel Vinahradau went on hunger
strike protesting against unfair court decision, activist’s wife Sviatlana
says.
