12 days in custody for filming plainclothes policemen

The court of the Leninski district of Minsk considered a case against Uladzimir Yukho, a member of Conservative Christian Party BPF, and Yury Navitski, an activist of For Freedom movement.

Both activists were detained during a rally on Dzyady day and accused of disorderly conduct.

Uladzimir Yukho and Yury Navitski were guarded to court from the detention centre in Akrestsin Street, where they had been kept since their detention on Sunday. They were told only in court that they were accused of swearing. They have been left without articles of daily necessity, because jail guards refused to accept parcels from relatives. Yury Navitski, an activist of For Freedom movement, told Radio Svaboda about the jail:

“It was very bad. I caught itch, pediculosis and cold. Heating did not work well in jail. I was not given food on my first day, but I looked at the food on the second day – it was impossible to eat it. Inmates do not have individual berths. There’s no sanitation. They say I was swearing at the burial place during the prayer. Absurd. I could not have done it. People would have kicked me out for swearing.”

Activist of For Freedom movement Yury Navitski was detained near the memorial cross “To the victims of Bolsheviks’ terror” set up in Minsk city district Loshytsa on the site of mass execution. This happened after the end of Dzyady rally organized by the Conservative Christian Party BPF. Navitsky tried to take photo of one of men in black clothes, but was detained.

Uladzimir Yukho, an activist of CCP BPF was detained near Culture Centre “Loshytski”.

“An unknown man in black clothes was standing behind me filming demonstrators and mumbling all the time as if he were reporting to someone. I asked if he was filming for Lukashenka and reporting to him. In response, he hit me in my head with a camera. I saw in the police department that all police majors were making up to him. This man drew up a report against me.”

Uladzimir Yukho filed a motion to conduct the trial in Belarusian, but the motion was declined by judge Navitskaya. The judge satisfied a motion to summon witnesses and calling a lawyer. Nevertheless, Uladizmir Yukho was sentenced to 7 days in custody.

Judge Mikhail Oma gave activist of For Freedom movement Yury Navitski 12 days in custody.