Former political prisoner Aliaksandr Malchanau faces extension of preventive supervision

Former political prisoner Aliaksandr Malchanau learned that Barysau police department filed a petition in court for an extension of preventive supervision, which is due to expire in January, Radio Liberty reports.

“I talked to policemen. They say they have filed a motion to extend the preventive supervision at least till July 2014. The preventive supervision rules, under which I am, require that twice a month – on the first and third Wednesdays– I should comes to the criminal inspection of Barysau and checked in there. I forgot to come and check on the first Wednesday in December. Such infringement can result in atrial, where I will get a fine of up to 1.3 million rubles. But then there will beanother trial, at the request of police, which will decide whether to extend the proactive supervision and for how long. I have no illusions about the court’s decision. Most likely, the fact that I forgot to check in and the police statement will help extend preventive supervision,” said Aliaksandr Malchanau to Radio Liberty.

The former political prisoner said that the decision to submit the petition does not violate applicable law, but at the same time the police have the right not to file such a petition.

In 2011, Aliaksandr Malchanau was sentenced to four years in prison for participating in a protest rally on December 19, 2010. A few months later, he was pardoned and released. In 2012, the former political prisoner was back in prison for six years on charges of stealing scrap metal. This summer, Aliaksandr Malchanau was released from prison in Navasady.