The investigation into the criminal case against the Belarusian ex-presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich has been prolonged again. The politician still might be punished for his participation in the so called ‘mass riots’ after the presidential election on December 19, 2010.
“The investigator let me know over the phone that the investigation into my case was extended for one month. Thus, the time is not yet ripe for Belarus’ starting a new policy. I will be under indictment for another month,” Ales Mikhalevich said on Facebook on Tuesday.
After post-election protests Ales Mikhalevich was arrested and put in notorious Amerikanka, the Belarusian KGB jail. He was accused of organizing mass riots. In February 2011, Mikhalevich was released, but restricted. At a press conference he claimed he had been tortured by KGB jail, which caused a massive public outcry.Then the politician secretly left Belarus and moved to Czech Republic.
Mikhalevich was repeatedly detained as a person put on the Interpol wanted list. In July 2012, the émigré politician was informed of his being removed from the Interpol hub database.
On the night of September, 8, Ales Mikhalevich was detained by Belarusian border guards when he was going on a train to his native country. Later, he was released ‘without changing of the measure of restraint’, which means that the politician remains under travel restrictions. It is to be recalled that Mikhalevich did not give any written pledge not to leave Belarus in 2010.
The politician applied to the Investigative Committee for dropping criminal charges against him, but was rebuffed.
Belsat.eu, following БелаПАН
