Andrei Molchan, severely beaten during detention, gets a fine
On 4 July an activist of the “European Belarus”
Andrei Molchan was tried at the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk for having
unfurled a national white-red-white flag on 19 May in order to express
solidarity with Siarhei Kavalenka.
The activist was severely beaten during the detention – the police broke his
jaw and inflicted other injuries. As usual, they got no punishment for it,
whereas Molchan was charged under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative
Offences, “violation of the order of organizing and holding mass events”. The
case was considered by Judge Siarhei Liushtyk.
3.40 p.m. At the beginning of the trial the judge declined the solicitation for
viewing the video materials which had been shot near the building of the
Pershamaiski District Police Department of Minsk.
3.50 p.m. Andrei Molchan bore testimony. According to him, on 19 March he
unfurled a white-red-white flag to express solidarity with political prisoner
Siarhei Kavalenka. When the police saw it, they started tearing the flag away
from him. Then they put his hands in handcuffs and started beating him. He fell
unconscious several times during the beating.
4 p.m. The first witness, police officer Aliaksandr Kutsko, born in 1991, bore
testimony.
4.10 p.m. Testimony was given by another witness, Aliaksadnr Ihnatovich. He
gave blurred answers. The both witnesses are soldiers. They were present as
witnesses during the confiscation of Molchan’s belongings, whereas the law
prohibits the same people to be witnesses of an incident and witnesses of a
search or confiscation of items at the same time.
4.30 p.m.
Testimony was born by Andrei’s sister, Hanna Molchan.
5.00 p.m. Andrei Molchan was found guilty and sentenced to a fine of 800,000
rubles (about $96).