Kavalenka’s relatives are worried about his health

Siarhei Kavalenka’s mother Lidziya Kavalenka works as a street sweeper. She was in Peramohi Square in Vitsebsk when the white-red-white flag appeared on the tree. As RFE/RL informs, the woman is greatly worried that police would beat and humiliate her son.

She says that on 7 January Siarhei was ill: he took medicines as doctors diagnosed him with cerebrovascular disease. Now the mother of the arrested opposition activist worry that there is a threat of a blood-stroke or heart attack, as he is not given medicines under arrest. She plans to compose a petition requiring medical examination and release of her son.

Siarhei Kavalenka’s 5-year-old son Valiantsin is waiting for him at home. The family decided not to tell anything to the boy, just to say that his father is absent on journey.

According to the family of the arrested oppositionist, Siarhei Kavalenka demanded the investigator and guards of the remand prison to speak only Belarusian to him.

Bear in mind that at noon on 7 January a white-red-white was hung out at the top of the 35-metres-high Christmas tree set up in Peramohi Square in Vitsebsk. Police cordoned off the tree and called for emergency service. The flag was removed with the help of a fire truck before eyes of passers-by. A dozen of police cars and special vehicles drove to the square. Policemen started checking the IDs and searching the people in the square.

As it became known later, activist of CCP BPF Syarhei Kavalenka was detained for the white-red-white flag. A case on charges relating Article 339 Part 2 of the Criminal Code (repeated hooliganism, or committed by a group of persons, or connected with committing less serious bodily harm) has been opened against him. He faces up to 6 years of imprisonment under this article. On 10 January the prosecutor of Vitsebsk ordered to place him in the remand prison for 2 months.