Vasil Parfiankou is sentenced to one year in a maximum-security penal colony for alleged violation of preventive surveillance rules.
The course of persecution
Vasil Parfiankou, charged with initiating mass social unrest, became the first convicted for participation in the 2010 December post-election peaceful demonstration. On February 17, 2011 Frunzensky disctict court found him guilty and sentenced to four years in maximum-security penal colony.
On August 11, 2011 the activist was pardoned by President Lukashenka and released from Vorsha prison. But on April 19, 2012 the investigation Committee informed Parfiankou of opening another criminal case on the basis of his violation of one-year preventive control regime, which had been ordered by court on January 5, 2012.
According to public prosecutor Stsiapurka, Mr Parfiankou was away from home at time arranged without valid excuse. The defendant explained that he was absent just within some minutes doing shopping. ‘In my opinion, they put me under preventive control regime to keep me from taking part in social and political activity. I do not think that having gone shopping I committed a crime,’ Parfiankou declared. He pointed out that he had been put under control after his participation in the protest action.
On August 2012 Mr Parfiankou started serving his term in Baranavichy penal colony; on February 9, 2013 he was freed but put under police surveillance.
On July 12, 2013 Mr Parfiankou was charged with violation of preventive surveillance rules (art. 421 of the Criminal Code). Although the case was submitted to court it was not tried: another method of influence on the activist was thought up. Having served five days of arrest, on September 21, 2013 Vasil Parfiankou was unexpectedly sent to Svetlahorsk activity therapy centre for one-year period.
