Prosecutor's Office forwards complaint in national flag case to court

Viktar Sharshun complained about the actions of the police, but the prosecutors forwarded his complaint to the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk. This is reported in a response received by Mr. Sharshun from the District Deputy Prosecutor M. Khortau.

On February 8, 2014, police officers in plain clothes came to Viktar Sharshun apartment and ordered to remove a white-red -white flag from his balcony, saying that it was an "unregistered symbol". Mr. Sharshun refused to obey, then he was beaten, tied up on the landing and taken to the police department of Tsentralny district.

There he was charged with an administrative offense under Art. 23.4 (disobedience to a lawful order or request of an official in the exercise of official authority) and Art. 23.5 (insult of an officer in the exercise of official authority) of the Code of Administrative Offences. Viktar Sharshun’s charges are now awaiting consideration in court.

On February 11, 2014, he filed a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office urging the authority to conduct an inspection alleging misconduct by the police and bring the perpetrators to justice. However, the Prosecutor sent the complaint to the Tsentralny District Court, reclassifying the subject of appeal to the citizen’s disagreement with the opening of administrative proceedings against him.