Participant of Process of 14 Alyaksandr Barazenka beaten by militia
Activist of the “European Belarus” campaign got a warning for alleged violation of order of serving punishment.
As the website of the civil campaign “European Belarus” reports, on March 23, Alyaksandr Barazenka came to the Frunzenski district criminal procedure inspection to check in at the fixed time. Syarhei Kisel, inspector for corrections, took him to the office, and began to swear, insult the young man, shout that he would rot the guy in prison. Moreover, the militia officers hit Alyaksandr Barazenka in his face several times. After that Kisel gave Barazenka a warning for violation of order of serving punishment.
According to the inspector, the warning was issued because Barazenka was out last Sunday during the check. Barazenka says he was at home that may be confirmed by his neighbours. Besides, inspector Kisel arbitrary changed a day plan for Barazenka, and the latter can’t work anymore.
At the end of 2008, Alyaksandr Barazenka was sentenced to one year of restriction of liberty for participation in a protest demonstration of entrepreneurs on January 2008. Restriction of liberty is a form home arrest, when a convicted person must be either at home or at work. The rights of the convicted are restricted, he must have a permit of militia to go anywhere, he must allow militia in his apartment at any time. If the convicted person has three warnings, a criminal case under article 415 of the Criminal Code of Belarus is instigated that provides for three years of imprisonment.
“I am shocked with this outrage. The militia officer issued an unlawful warning for me, he is threatening to rot me in prison, insulting and beating me. Than he changed my day plan and says I must be at home at 8.00 p.m., though I work till 9.30 p.m. I understand well that it is not a will of a militiaman, but an authorized attempt of intimidation of me and other activists ahead of the Freedom Day. Militiamen didn’t hide this, they said they would be keeping an eye on me on March 25. I feel like standing under the sword of Damocles after the first warning. Two violations more, real or fabricated like this one, and I will face up to three years in prison. Of course, I will appeal against the actions by the militia, though I am sure it won’t be successful. We are hostages of the regime in his bargaining with the West,” Alyaksandr Barazenka commented on the events.
It should be reminded that the Process of 14 is a case under article 342 of the Criminal Code of Belarus, instigated against participants of a peaceful protest demonstration of entrepreneurs, held in Minsk on January 10, 2008.
