Participant of memory action near Valadarka prison disappeared

Human rights activists are looking for Aliaksei Kruhlik, who was detained on September 14 near the detention facility in Valadarski Street.

BelaPAN news agency learnt it from Andrei Bandarenka, the head of Platform Innovation human rights organisation.

On September 14, the police detained 18 people who were going to have a moment of silence near detention facility No. 1 in Valadarski Street where Minsk resident Ihar Ptichkin, 21, died under unclear circumstances. The memorial action was to be held on the 40th day after his death, but wasn't carried out. Five participants and some journalists were detained in Niamiha district. Journalists were set free, but the rest detainees were tried in the Tsentralny district court. They were found guilty of carrying out an unsanctioned event and fined. Ptichkin's nine month pregnant sister Iryna Miranovich was issued a warning. Thirteen people, who were detained near the detention facility, were taken to the Maskouski district police station. All except one person were released. It was found out on September 16 that it was Aliaksei Kruhlik, who had an hunting rifle without documents. Bandarenka says human rights activists are trying to figure out the situation. Representatives of Platform Innovation appealed to Minsk's Maskouski district court. Court officers said Kruhlik had been tried, but refused to say the court decision. They just noted that “he was at home already”. Human rights defenders cannot reach Kruhlik or his relatives – their phones are unavailable.