On December 14, the first court hearing in the case of Hrodna-based blogger Vadzim Yermashuk (Vadimati) took place in Shchuchyn court.
Friends and acquaintances came to the court to express their solidarity with the blogger. Vadzim was deeply moved when he saw such a big ‘support group’. Several policemen are reported to witness against the defendant; Vadzim does not admit his guilt. The trial is to continue on Friday, December 17.
Vadzim Yermashuk is an Instagram blogger and seller at the Karona market. In the wake of the 2020 presidential election, he attended trials of political prisoners and spoke against police violence.
On August 16, Vadimati was detained over allegedly calling for taking part in an unofficial sports event at a skate playground in the town of Shchuchyn (Hrodna region). As a sign of protest, Vadzim refused to eat behind bars, where he spent three days awaiting his trial. Charged under Art. 24.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences (violating rules of holding mass events), Yermashuk was tried in Shchuchyn district court on August 19; judge Dzmitry Tsivunchyk sentenced him to 25 days in jail.
When Vadzim was serving his first term, one more administrative case was initiated against him on the back of his calling the 115 service. According to the prosecutor’s version, then the man used bad language when speaking about the housing system and the city executive committee. The hearing of the new case began on September 8; it was conducted by video link. Notably, the trial was postponed for two days in a row due to Vadzim’s ill health. As he had fever and hypertension, an ambulance was called to him. As a result, the defendant was placed under arrest for another 15 days.
When Vadzim was under administrative arrest, the Belarusian authorities opened two criminal cases against him – under Article 368 of the Criminal Code (‘insulting the president’) and Article 370 (‘desecrating the state symbols’).
belsat.eu
