Belarus police fail to give reason for detaining, beating opposition politician


Tsentralny district court of Minsk considered the administrative case of Vyachaslau Siuchyk, the leader of the solidarity movement “Together”, who was detained overnight into Tuesday. Mr Siuchyk was severely beaten by the police officers who were arresting him.

He was accused of hooliganism and disobedience to the police’s orders. The trial was to have started at 11:00.

But the policemen were driving the politician around the city for a long time hoping that who had come to support him would leave. The trial was attended by politicians Pavel Sevyarynets, Mikalai Statkevich, activists Halina Siuchyk, Alyaksandr Makayeu and journalists.

As a result, Vyachaslau Siuchyk was taken to court only at 14:50. The case was considered by judge Natallya Vaytsehovich. Although Mr Siuchyk has poor vision, the police did not allow to pass him his glasses.

Siuchyk’s defense lawyer moved for completing the protocols of the case because they had been drawn up before Siuchyk was detained. The judge dismissed the move. She also rejected an appeal to hold the trial in the Belarusian language. Policemen Davydau and Korsak witnessed in court; they failed to explain why they had arrested Mr Siuchyk.

Finally, the judge demanded the protocols be completed as the real time and place of the offense do not correspond to those mentioned in them.

In the early hours of April 19, Vyachaslau Siuchyk was detained at the entrance to the apartment block he lives in. He was battered and handcuffed by the police officers; they also ripped clothes off him.

belsat.eu

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