Aliaksandr Atroshchankau: «Militiaman shoved his hand into a window leaf, opened window and entered through it…»

Democratic activist Aliaksandr Atroshchankau was at large 19 October. The oppositionist was sentenced to 10 days of arrest for the preparation of the European March. The detainment of Atroshchankau has evoked a wide response: the militia rushed into his flat on the first floor through a window, unlawfully searched his flat and confiscated two computers and informational materials for the European March, the activist was accused of “using obscene language” in order to excuse unlawful actions of the militia.

“9 October militiamen rang the door bell. I didn’t open as I hadn’t call for the militia. But they didn’t go away for a long time and then entered the flat through a window. The window fast was not shot, the militiamen passed his hand into a window leaf, opened the window and entered through it … I was shocked by their impudence! Just after they got into the flat they said they had received a telephone call that there was a corpse in my flat, it had been lying for some days already and allegedly spread cadaverous stink… But they didn’t find any corpse, of course. They didn’t react on my requests to introduce themselves. The room was soon filled with the militiamen - about 15 people came. They behaved offhand. They set down at the computer, began to rummage my belongings. Without my presence, I was taken to another room. Shortly, they behaved as they were at their own house. The search lasted more than two hours. At 9.00 p.m. I was guarded to Central District Internal Affairs Department. When my wife asked the militiamen what I was accused of, they said they hadn’t decided yet. In other words, if there is a man, the article will be found…”, - Aliaksandr Atroshchankau told the details of his detainment to Charter’97 press center.

The democratic activist spent a night in the special prison facility in Akrestin Street. “The trial was held in keeping with the best traditions. There weren’t any signatures in the reports. Just the evidences of OMON soldiers and militiamen. At first they said I had been detained as I had no documents. But at the moment of the detainment my wife stood at the house entrance with my documents. The militiamen didn’t let her in! I was convicted under the traditional article – “using obscene language”. They wrote it in the department already, allegedly I was using rude language there… it was obvious the militiamen said the learned phrases”, - Atroshchankau said.

“At first, there was very cold in the cell, I caught a chill. There was frost at night, it was impossible to sleep towards morning. Many people in the cell were ill. Sometimes it was tight in the cell – there were 9 people in a cell designed for 5 people. We slept on one side and turned on count three. It is very difficult. It’s impossible to walk in the cell, sometimes there wasn’t enough space to stay. Therefore the bones and joints were aching. The food is terrible. A cutlet consisted of bread and garlic, porridge – almost only water”, - the activist continues his story about the keeping in special prison in Akrestin Street.

“Of course, the most difficult day was 14 October, I wanted to be with my friends on the march. I worried very much. I am glad that for the first the action was held without the crackdown, but there were the repressions before and after the march, so we can’t say the action had peaceful character”, - Aliaksandr Atroshchankau added.