Wind of change? Three months in prison for attack on opposition initiative group in Minsk

A man who beat an activist of the movement “For Freedom” appeared before the judge on Tuesday.

On July 10, two strong-built men attacked campaigners who were collecting signatures for registering opposition politician Yury Hubarevich a parliamentary candidate. The duo attempted to desecrate historical symbols of the Belarusians – the white-red-white flag and Pahonya emblem, insulted the collectors and hit Alyaksandr Rusevich twice.

The campaigners called the police andthe attackers were detained. Since only one of them, Alyaksandr Sviryd, was a puncher, he spent two days in the detention centre. A case was opened against him under Article 339-1 ( ‘hooliganism’).

A dozen of people came to the courtroom to support the victim.

The attacker, born in 1989, has already had a criminal record, including fraud, experienced drink problems with alcohol. He works as a carwasher, lives with his mother and sister.

According to Sviryd, on that day and his friend and him drank took two bottles of vodka.

“I wanted to talk to them and ask why they do not like Lukashenka? One of them was rude, and I hit him in the head. According to investigators, I also hit him in the body, but I do not remember. I’m not a beast to beat people for nothing. I was provoked. By what? I do not remember. You see if one is drunk, they may become aggressive.”

Sviryd must have been ‘provoked’ by the initiative group’s white-red-white flag which is commonly considered to be ‘opposition’s’, Rusevich said. According to him, the defendant asked provocative questions first, then started to shower insults on them, and finally hit him in the head with his fist and kicked in the torso.

After a two-hour break, the judge pronounced the verdict: three months of arrest and BYN 300 fine in favor of the victim. Interestingly, a bit later Sviryd and Rusevich shook hands as a sign of reconciliation.

Alyaksandr Rusevich who lost two jobs due to his creeds and opposition activity, is not going to quit the movement ‘For Freedom’.

belsat.eu