Tsentralny DPD denies restricting access to ambulatory court hearings

February 11, Leanid Kulakou received a response from the Tsentralny District Police Department of Minsk to his entry in its complaint book.

On January 23, during the exit court hearings at the Tsentralny DPD, held to try participants of a memorial action in honor of the Ukrainian “Heavenly Hundred”, interested people weren't let either in the building of the police department nor to the hearings. At first they were expelled by the duty policeman and then – by the head of the DPD, Artur Shakhlai.

Leanid Shaklai managed to make an entry in the complaint book of the DPD. No one else was allowed to do it. A police ensign grabbed the lawyer of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” Nasta Loika by the collar and pulled her out of the building after she demanded to be presented the complaint book. About twenty people had to stand outdoors in a frosty weather, waiting for the results of the trials.

In fifteen day, Leanid Kazlou received a predictably cynical answer, signed personally by the head of the DPD, A. Shakhlai. “As it was established during an examination, on January 23, 2015 administrative cases against persons charged under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, was held at the Tsentralny Distirct Police Department. No restrictions of access to the hall where the court sittings were held were registered.”

Leanid Kulakou, dissatisfied with such an “answer”, intends to appeal to the MIA own security department.

Let us remind, nine people were detained after the peaceful memorial action in honour of the Ukrainian “Heavenly Hundred” (the people who had been killed during the tragic events at Kyiv Maidan last year). Four of the detainees were charged with taking part in an unauthorized mass event (Article 23.34 of the CAO).