Will Belarus get another political prisoner?

On 25 February a court sitting on the criminal case against Yana Paliakova took place at Salihorsk district court. She is charged with violation of article 400, part 2, ‘Knowingly false delation’ that envisages up to five years of imprisonment, saligorsk.org informs.

Bear in mind that in November 2008 persecution of Salihorsk human rights activist by the law machinery got a wide publicity.

On 9 October Yana Paliakova was attacked in the porch of her house. From there she called the ambulance and the police. She was given the first aid by the medics, but had to wait for quite a long time till the police came. She was taken to the police station to write a statement about the assault.

Bear in mind that on 30 August Yana Paliakova was detained by the police in the center of Salihorsk. According to her, the policemen and a man in mufti proposed that she signed some papers. When she tried to have a look at them, she got a severe hit on the hands and then two kicks in the legs. Afterwards the beating was registered by medics.