Trial of Piotr Ivanov postponed to 17 April
The trial of Vitsebsk
citizen Piotr Ivanov, detained at the building of the regional road
police on 12 April, started the same day. Mr. Ivanov solicited for
the admission of his counsel to the trial. Andrei Preis, Judge of
Pershamaiski Distrit Court of Vitsebsk, granted the petition. Piotr
Ivanov was given time until 11.00 a.m. on 17 April in order to
conclude a service agreement with a counsel, and was set free until
then.
Bear in mind that Piotr Ivanov was summonsed to the road
police department of Vitsebsk City Executive Committee for giving
explanations. The reason was that on 16 February he had witnessed the
detention of the members of the Belarusian Christian Democracy
Aliaksei Kishchuk and Stanislau Laurenau who had been standing in the
center of Vitsebsk with a poster "Freedom to Political
Prisoners!", and subsequently applied for the administrative
punishment of the policemen who had violated the traffic rules during
the detention of the activists.
The head of the
inter-district road police department of the Main Police Department
of Vitsebsk Regional Executive Committee Aliaksandr Stsiapanau who
personally took explanations from Ivanov, accused him of telling
lies, after which the latter was detained and charged with violation
of Article 24.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses – knowingly
false explanation or statement.
At 12.57 a.m. on 12 April
Piotr Ivanov was taken to Pershamaiski District Court in Vitsebsk.
However, in a minute the driver started the car and drove the
detainee to Pershamaiski District Police Department, where he was
also given charges under Article 23.4 – insubordination to lawful
demands of a public agent.
On 17 April Mr. Ivanov will be
tried on the both articles. He can be fined or imprisoned for up to
15 days.
The trial of Vitsebsk
citizen Piotr Ivanov, detained at the building of the regional road
police on 12 April, started the same day. Mr. Ivanov solicited for
the admission of his counsel to the trial. Andrei Preis, Judge of
Pershamaiski Distrit Court of Vitsebsk, granted the petition. Piotr
Ivanov was given time until 11.00 a.m. on 17 April in order to
conclude a service agreement with a counsel, and was set free until
then.
Bear in mind that Piotr Ivanov was summonsed to the road
police department of Vitsebsk City Executive Committee for giving
explanations. The reason was that on 16 February he had witnessed the
detention of the members of the Belarusian Christian Democracy
Aliaksei Kishchuk and Stanislau Laurenau who had been standing in the
center of Vitsebsk with a poster "Freedom to Political
Prisoners!", and subsequently applied for the administrative
punishment of the policemen who had violated the traffic rules during
the detention of the activists.
The head of the
inter-district road police department of the Main Police Department
of Vitsebsk Regional Executive Committee Aliaksandr Stsiapanau who
personally took explanations from Ivanov, accused him of telling
lies, after which the latter was detained and charged with violation
of Article 24.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses – knowingly
false explanation or statement.
At 12.57 a.m. on 12 April
Piotr Ivanov was taken to Pershamaiski District Court in Vitsebsk.
However, in a minute the driver started the car and drove the
detainee to Pershamaiski District Police Department, where he was
also given charges under Article 23.4 – insubordination to lawful
demands of a public agent.
On 17 April Mr. Ivanov will be
tried on the both articles. He can be fined or imprisoned for up to
15 days.
Piotr Ivanov is a well-known civil activist, human
rights defender and participant of the civil campaign "Tell the
Truth". Last year he was fined for holding an action in support
of political prisoner Siarhei Kavalenka.
Piotr Ivanov is a well-known civil activist, human
rights defender and participant of the civil campaign "Tell the
Truth". Last year he was fined for holding an action in support
of political prisoner Siarhei Kavalenka.