Young Front activist Yaromenak put under preventive supervision

The activist is to face a number of restrictions after the release from a detention centre.

The decision was taken by judge Syarhei Bandarenka on March 15. The handcuffed young man was guarded to the trial from the detention centre, where he serves his administrative arrest. On March 11, the Leninski district court of Minsk found Yaromenak guilty of taking part in an unauthorized action near the building of the Belarusian MFA. The activists has already been sentenced to administrative arrests three times, “Nasha Niva” newspaper reports.

Uladzimir Yaromenak was sentenced 3-year imprisonment for taking part in a peaceful protest demonstration on December 19, 2010. He was pardoned by Lukashenka last year.

Human rights activist Anastasia Loika notices the release on pardon does not mean rehabilitation of political prisoners. Their convictions were not removed from records.

The released prisoners are still monitored by police.

The human rights activist thinks Yaromenak's case was considered so quickly to prevent his activity before March 25, the Freedom Day. Loika does not rule out the preventive supervision may be applied to other activists.

On March 13, former political prisoner Pavel Vinahradau was sentenced to another term in custody. It was his second term that gives a ground to impose restrictions on him.

Persons under preventive supervision must appear to police on call and give explanations regarding observing conditions of the preventive supervision: warn police about change of permanent address or work and ask for permission to travel outside the district (city). Authorized police officers can visit such persons at any time. A criminal case may be opened after three offenses under the preventive supervision.