“Revolutionist” Dzmitry Shauchenka released from detention facility in Homel

On January 4, Homel leader of “Revolution by social networks” internet community Dzmitry Shauchenka was released after five days in custody.

Policemen followed the Homel tradition and did not release the activist from the detention facility on time, but guarded him to the Chyhunachny district police department, while Dzmitry’s friends were waiting for him outside the detention facility, Euroradio reports.

The arrested activist said how he had been detained on December 30. “I left my flat and went to a bus stop. Riot police detained me 100 metres from the bus stop. I remember the name of one of the policemen – Yury Byarozkin (by the way, this police officer is already known for detaining activists and giving false evidence against them in court – editor’s note). I was taken to a police department, where I was planed black-and-white leaflets similar to those distributed in the city by “Revolution by social network”. I don’t understand why they did it – I had colour leaflets on me, over 1800 copies,” Dzmitry Shauchenka says.

Judge Anatoly Sotnikau sentenced him to arrest for violation of the rules of holding a mass event (article 23.34 of the Administrative Code). It’s the third time when this judge has tried the activist and sentenced him to a term of arrest. According to Dzmitry, “some chavs” were called to the trial as witnesses. They claimed Dzmitry had given them leaflets and called to celebrate New Year’s Eve with applause.

Shauchenka served his term of arrest in a solitary cell. It’s another Homel invention to place all opposition members to solitary cell probably to prevent influence on other inmates. “New Year’s Eve was an ordinary day. As always in detention facilities, they gave milk on Saturday. I was not upset that I had to celebrate the start of the year in jail, because this holiday is not very important for me,” Shaucenka says.

He plans to appeal against the court decision, though he doubts it will have effect.