Belarusian Journalists Ask to Change Restraint to Son of Murdered Journalist

According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists

Several dozens of Belarusian journalists signed the petition to Minsk procurator Mikalai Kulikou, asking him to change the restraint to Anton Filimonau, son of Veranika Charkasava. The collection of signatures under the petition was initiated by the member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Sviatlana Zavadskaia, wife of the missing ORT cameraman Dzmitry Zavadski.

Here’s an excerpt from the text of the petition:
“According to medics, Filimonau A.D. has serious illnesses – nephroptosis, functional cardiopatia and chronic tonsillitis. In the case he will be further kept at the investigative isolator, the illnesses can exacerbate, which can have irreversible consequences for his weak body. Besides, the detention at the investigative isolator can have negative consequences for psychological and emotional development of the teenager. It’s worth mentioning Filimonau A.D. is positively characterized by his school teachers, neighbors and other persons who know him well enough.”

Journalists point that according to Art 117 of the Criminal-Process Code personal restraint is used in the case the suspect or accused can hide from the organ of criminal prosecution or court, interfere with the preliminary investigation or court consideration, counteract to the execution of the verdict, etc.

”We are sure – Anton’s detention in the isolator won’t foster the correction of his behavior and we must help him get out of this hard situation, not push him to the abyss. We think that being released Anton won’t hide from the organ of criminal prosecution or court and won’t counteract to the case investigation and its consideration at court. That’s why we earnestly ask to change the restrain to Anton Filimonau and release him from custody. We will try to take all efforts to make a good impact on the teenager”, -- reads the petition.