Opposition activist in Homel writes complaints while in detention

Opposition activist Kanstantsin Zhukouski, who is serving a 10-day arrest in the detention center for alleged disorderly conduct (swearing), continues his hunger strike.

On February 20, the activist visited the Executive Committee to file a complaint. There he had a conflict with a security guard. As a result, Kanstantsin Zhukouski was accused of swearing. The court sentenced him to an arrest of 10 days.

According to human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka, the jailed activist has sent a number of complaints, including to the police department of the Homel Regional Executive Committee, the Regional Court and the Board of Judges.

In his complaint to the police department, which runs the detention center, Kanstantsin Zhukouski notes that the court decision says that “an administrative penalty in the form of arrest should be calculated from 20 February 2014”. “The administration of the detention facility of the police department of the Homel Regional Executive Committee admitted me to serve the administrative arrest, considering it a misprint. I requested that the administration was obliged to return me to the court to correct the error, while I am to the present day serving administrative penalty according to the specified decision,” says the activist.

Kanstantsin Zhukouski has also sent an appeal to the Homel Regional Court. He writes that the court ruling is illegal. First, the court considered the administrative case in a closed session. Second, the court deprived the activist of his right to prepare his defense and to protect his interests using freely chosen defense counsel (lawyer). Third, when considering the administrative case, the court dismissed a request to conduct the administrative proceedings in Belarusian, which is a direct violation of the Procedural-Executive Code.

He asks to cancel the decision of the court of Tsentralny district.

Kanstantsin Zhukouski also asks the Board of Judges to check the qualifications of Judge Osipava.