United Russia member to be tried for solidarity with Kavalenka

Pyotr Ivanov, a citizen of the Russian Federation, was detained for handing out leaflets calling to support an imprisoned oppositionist from Vitsebsk in court.

Police officers from the Kastrychnitski district police department drew up a report for calling to an unsanctioned action, but later changed the accusation to a more traditional – swearing, Viasna human rights centre reports.

Pyotr Ivanov was detained in the evening of January 6 and taken to a temporary detention facility. He then was taken to his flat for an “inspection” authorized by an appropriate document.

“The inspection turned out to be an ordinary search. I don’t know what they were looking for. They did not seize anything, but turned everything upside down. I was guarded to the detention facility again and remained there until January 9, Monday,” Pyotr Ivanov said.

Ivanov was taken to the Kastrychnitski district court on Monday morning. The trial was postponed till January 16 after Ivanov demanded a lawyer.