Vital Chopik, detained in Brest, was taken to hospital with signs of severe beating

Brest Viasna gave details about the beatings and torture of a 40-year-old Brest resident detained in early March, who went to politically motivated trials.

Recall that on March 28, 2024, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that a 40-year-old resident of Brest, who went to trials, was placed in a pre-trial detention center.

In particular, BelTA wrote that the man "together with accomplices... regularly attended criminal trials. He recorded the course and results of the sessions, information about witnesses and representatives of law enforcement agencies.”

Brest human rights activists write that they were talking about Chopik Vital Viktaravich. Relatives of some political prisoners, as well as people who were tried in Brest on political cases, could see him in the courthouse over the past three years.

The fact that Vital Chopik went to political trials often was also noticed by Brest propagandists. He was filmed after such trials and approached with questions.

According to data received at various times from sources of Brest Viasna, it is known that the man was searched on December 1, 2021. And in September 2022, Chopik was first detained under Article 19.11 of the Administrative Code, but when it turned out that the man simply did not have a phone where some "extremist materials" could be found, a report was drawn up against him under Article 24.23 of the Administrative Code. The basis for the report was the red-white-red flag, taped from the inside to the window of his house, although Chopik himself claimed that the flag appeared after he was detained and taken to the temporary detention facility.

In early March 2024, the Brest resident was detained again. According to Brest Viasna, after the arrest, the man was taken to the hospital by ambulance with traces of severe beatings, and Chopik's complexion was yellow (which may indicate liver damage due to the beating).

On March 12, an administrative trial was held under Article 24.3 of the Administrative Code for allegedly disobeying the demands of the police. The search was conducted as part of a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code (сreation, management of an extremist formation).

And on March 28, the Interior Ministry announced that it had placed the Brest resident in a pre-trial detention centre. By age, and by the history of the man, it can be concluded that it was about Vital Chopik. He was accused of promoting extremist activity (Part 1 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code).