Police threaten activist to prosecute him for ‘treason’ over his applying for Poland’s humanitarian visa


On the back of the threats voiced by Belarusian security forces, Orsha resident Syarhei Myarnenka had to flee Belarus in fear of being prosecuted, human rights Viasna reports. Now the young man is safe and secure.

Orsha activist Syarhei Myarnenka.
Photo: Spring96.org

Amid the election campaign of the summer of 2020, Syarhei was an observer. He was arrested three times and repeatedly summoned for questioning. A few weeks ago, he was called as a witness in the protests-linked case initiated against his friend.

It light of that, the man applied to the Polish visa centre in Mahiliou and asked for a humanitarian visa. However, security officers summoned him to the Orsha police department and showed him a copy of his letter to the Polish consul; apparently, they gained access to the surveillance camera installed in the visa centre.

The policemen warned the activist that his application might result in charging him with ‘treason’ (Article 356 of the Criminal Code of Belarus). According to the former election observer, the police officers threatened to hit him with truncheons in order to make him appear in a video and tell about his appeal to the Polish side on camera.

The activist immediately left Belarus after security officers arrived at his mother’s place and conducted a search there.

Articles
Imprisoned minor Mikita Zalatarou spends 13 days in punitive confinement
2021.10.18 14:54

belsat.eu

TWITTER