Trial of Piotr Ivanov postponed to 17 April

The trial of Vitsebsk citizen Piotr Ivanov, detained at the building of the regional road police on 12 April, started the same day. Mr. Ivanov solicited for the admission of his counsel to the trial. Andrei Preis, Judge of Pershamaiski Distrit Court of Vitsebsk, granted the petition. Piotr Ivanov was given time until 11.00 a.m. on 17 April in order to conclude a service agreement with a counsel, and was set free until then.

Bear in mind that Piotr Ivanov was summonsed to the road police department of Vitsebsk City Executive Committee for giving explanations. The reason was that on 16 February he had witnessed the detention of the members of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Aliaksei Kishchuk and Stanislau Laurenau who had been standing in the center of Vitsebsk with a poster "Freedom to Political Prisoners!", and subsequently applied for the administrative punishment of the policemen who had violated the traffic rules during the detention of the activists.

The head of the inter-district road police department of the Main Police Department of Vitsebsk Regional Executive Committee Aliaksandr Stsiapanau who personally took explanations from Ivanov, accused him of telling lies, after which the latter was detained and charged with violation of Article 24.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses – knowingly false explanation or statement.

At 12.57 a.m. on 12 April Piotr Ivanov was taken to Pershamaiski District Court in Vitsebsk. However, in a minute the driver started the car and drove the detainee to Pershamaiski District Police Department, where he was also given charges under Article 23.4 – insubordination to lawful demands of a public agent.

On 17 April Mr. Ivanov will be tried on the both articles. He can be fined or imprisoned for up to 15 days. 

The trial of Vitsebsk citizen Piotr Ivanov, detained at the building of the regional road police on 12 April, started the same day. Mr. Ivanov solicited for the admission of his counsel to the trial. Andrei Preis, Judge of Pershamaiski Distrit Court of Vitsebsk, granted the petition. Piotr Ivanov was given time until 11.00 a.m. on 17 April in order to conclude a service agreement with a counsel, and was set free until then.

Bear in mind that Piotr Ivanov was summonsed to the road police department of Vitsebsk City Executive Committee for giving explanations. The reason was that on 16 February he had witnessed the detention of the members of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Aliaksei Kishchuk and Stanislau Laurenau who had been standing in the center of Vitsebsk with a poster "Freedom to Political Prisoners!", and subsequently applied for the administrative punishment of the policemen who had violated the traffic rules during the detention of the activists.

The head of the inter-district road police department of the Main Police Department of Vitsebsk Regional Executive Committee Aliaksandr Stsiapanau who personally took explanations from Ivanov, accused him of telling lies, after which the latter was detained and charged with violation of Article 24.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses – knowingly false explanation or statement.

At 12.57 a.m. on 12 April Piotr Ivanov was taken to Pershamaiski District Court in Vitsebsk. However, in a minute the driver started the car and drove the detainee to Pershamaiski District Police Department, where he was also given charges under Article 23.4 – insubordination to lawful demands of a public agent.

On 17 April Mr. Ivanov will be tried on the both articles. He can be fined or imprisoned for up to 15 days.

Piotr Ivanov is a well-known civil activist, human rights defender and participant of the civil campaign "Tell the Truth". Last year he was fined for holding an action in support of political prisoner Siarhei Kavalenka.

"Vitsebsk Viasna"

Piotr Ivanov is a well-known civil activist, human rights defender and participant of the civil campaign "Tell the Truth". Last year he was fined for holding an action in support of political prisoner Siarhei Kavalenka.

"Vitsebsk Viasna"