Vinahradau: Authorities wanted me not to “overshadow festivities”

An activist was held in custody for 72 hours without giving any reasons.

Zmena leader Pavel Vinahradau told the website charter97.org how he had been detained ahead of the city day celebration.

“Three plainclothes policemen – district police officer Alyaksandr Davidzyuk, Syarhei Savuhin an Andrushenka (don't remember his first name) – came to my home on September 7. I was ordered to pack my things. I didn't see sense to argue, just packed my things and followed them. I was taken to the Maskouski district police department, where a police report for 'disorderly conduct' was trumped up,” Pavel Vinahraau says.  

“I was taken from the police department to the court of the Maskouski district, but the trial was postponed. They then drove me to a detention centre in Akrestin Street. It's was so usual, no surprises. When 72 hours since my detention passed and charges were not brought against me, I was taken to the police department again, where I was waiting for trial in a 'cage'. It was a violation of my rights, because a person can be detained without presenting charges only for 72 hours,” the activist notes.

“I was taken to the court and sentenced to 5 days in custody. The term is rather short. I link the incident to the City Day celebration on September 8. The authorities decided my friends Alyaksandr Artsybashau, Yahor Vinyatski and I should not 'overshadow the festivities with our presence' and 'impair the Belarusian sovereignty,” Pavel Vinahradau said.

It should be reminded that Pavel Vinahradau was detained on September 7. A judge of t Maskouski district court sentenced the activist to five days in custody on September 10. Activist Alyaksandr Artsybashau was sentenced to three days in custody. He was released in the courtroom, because he had already spent three days in a detention facility pending trial.