Mahiliou court turns down complaint by BelaPAN reporter
On 21 April, Mahiliou regional court dismissed a complaint by BelaPAN news agency reporter Uladzimir Laptsevich against an earlier decision by Leninski District Court, which sentenced him to 7 days of administrative arrest for alleged resisting arrest on 28 March.
“It took the judge only five minutes to pronounce her verdict. I think it is unfair and illegal. The judge did not take my speech into account. I am going to appeal the decision in superior courts”, says the journalist.
According to Mahiliou human rights defender Barys Bukhel, the copies of the police records given to the claimant contradicted those presented in court. “It is evident that the record was corrected later. Uladzimir’s arrest was illegal. His detention is linked to his professional activity”, says Mr. Bukhel.
