Slonim: court fines beaten activist of Belarusian Christian Democracy

On 12 June the trial over Volha Pansevich, a member of the steering committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, beaten by police this April, took place at the Slonim District Court.

The activist was charged with using obscene language in public and insubordination to legal demands of police.

In the morning the court listened to the testimonies of two police witnesses. According to one of them, Volha behaved as drunk during the detention. However, the other policeman didn't confirm it. By the way, the activist wasn't examined for alcohol after the detention.

The testimonies of one more policeman and three witnesses of Volha Pansevich were heard after a break.

Judge Ivan Lastouski found the defendant guilty on the both charges and fined her 2.5 million rubles (about $).

Bear in mind that a police patrol approached Volha Pansevich at about 7.30 p.m. on 21 April in Khliupin Street in Shlonim and told her to go with them to the police department. She refused, after which they twisted her arms and pulled her into their car, kicking and hitting her. Then they put her hands in handcuffs. At the police department, she was put in a temporary isolation cell, where she was kept for three days, during which she was beaten and ordered to stand facing the wall, with her legs far apart.

The woman said she would appeal such actions of the police. In response, on 30 May she was shown two violation reports against her.