Investigator Will Determine Custody Type for Klimau
Radio Liberty
Andrei Klimau is now kept in the temporary detention center. This time the officers of the Investigation Committee suspect him of organizing mass disorders during the opposition-led protest on 25 March. The protesters demanded Aliaxandr Lukashenka resign. While dispersing the demonstration, the riot police detained several dozens of people. Almost all of them were arrested to three to fifteen days in prison. Meanwhile Andrei Klimau was charged with defaming Aliaxandr Lukashenka. So far the case has been in Pershamaiski Borough Court. A regular sitting is due to take place today. It is not known if Andrei Klimau will come to court himself or will be brought by guards.
Which stage is the case for defaming Aliaxandr Lukashenka now in? Most probably, no verdict will be passed in the case. The thing is that the first sitting was held as late as 6 April. According to the court ruling, it was held behind closed doors. Fragments from the books by Andrei Klimau were quoted. He insisted that he had written his works in the genre of political pamphlet.
The following day everyone thought the procurator would make a statement defining the procurator's office position regarding the punishment. But the sitting was put off till 25 April. The procurator said that she needed to collect additional information.
Andrei Klimau was detained on Friday on charges of a new criminal case initiated for the events of 25 March. Today at 1 p.m. the investigator Ihar Prakharenkau will have to define custody type. He said that the Peshamaiski Borough Court sitting might be put off to another day. Otherwise Andrei Klimau will be taken to court by guards.
The criminal case against Andrei Klimau is the third one started by the Investigation Committee for street demonstrations. Soon they will put on trial the leader of the Social Democrats Mikola Statkievich and the Young Front activist Paval Sieviaryniets for street demonstrations on 18 and 19 October against the falsification of the election and referendum results. Mikola Statkievich believes that the criminal cases show that the authorities attempt to neutralize the street protest activists.
Today in the second half of the day it will become known if Andrei Klimau will be released under a written commitment not to leave the city, or will stay in custody until the hearings in court.
