In Minsk criminal cases opened for graffiti in Belarusian

On August 11 after 4 p.m. people in black uniform with machine guns and helmets burst into three different flats in Minsk.

Tenants were told to lie prone on the floor. In one of the flats the guys were lying on the floor for about half an hour, electric shockers were used against them without cause. Then searches were held in the three flats in the framework of criminal cases, while the young people were informed about the cases much later, Viasna human rights centre informs.

The searches were held with violations: several investigators at once were turning different rooms upside down so that it was impossible to keep watch over them. As a result, “dangerous” objects were found in the flats of the young people: books, spray cans, all the saved money.

Searches were also held in the flats of the parents of the young guys, in Minsk and Smarhon. In Smarhon the book of Ihar Alinevich “I go to Magadan” was seized. All computers were seized.

After the searches 5 persons were detained, they were charged with creating of graffiti in Belarusian in Minsk in May and August 2015, and in painting a social advertising billboard in June.

The suspects Vyachaslau Kasinerau, Maxim Pyakarski, Yaraslau Ulyanenkau were charged with participating in several criminal episodes:

1) Graffiti with the words “Belarus must be Belarusian” and folk patterns, crossed sickle and hammer, swastika and other symbols and images, which were defined as “intended acts, accompanied by damage to property by unknown persons, who had gravely violated public order and expressed flagrant disrespect to the society.” A criminal case was opened on charges relating Article 339 Part 2 of the Criminal Code, “Hooliganism by a group of persons”;

2) Graffiti on a former military unit with the words “Revolution of consciousness is already happening,” with a silhouette of a man who is throwing a Molotov cocktail, which was also treated as a violation of Article 339 Part 2 of the Criminal Code, “Hooliganism by a group of persons.”

3) A social advertising banner with images of policemen in Haretski Street in Minsk, smeared by paint. The material damage was equal to Br 2 million 200 thousand. These actions are treated as violation of Article 341 of the Criminal Code – “Defiling of buildings and property damage”.

Among the detainees there is also a citizen of Russia, Pavel, and one more person who asked not to tell his name.

Notably, right after the searches the young men were taken to the Main Directorate for Organised Crime and Corruption Control (GUBOP). There, in violation of rules of procedure (right to defence was not accorded, protocols were not drawn up), “unofficial” conversations were started with them, psychological pressure exerted on them, there were provocations and even beating of some of the young people.

Late a girlfriend of one of the detainees was summoned to the Main Directorate for Organized Crime Control by deceit as well.

“I started to call my boyfriend, but some man answered instead of him, he presented himself as a policeman and said that while riding a bicycle, my boyfriend allegedly had an accident with a child. I was invited to come to Revalyutsyjnaya Street, 3. He said that allegedly parents of the injured child “have filed a police report, and I could help and make them withdraw the report.” I went there. There I found out that my boyfriend and his friends are suspected of some criminal offense, and there have been no bike collision. Officers of the 4th department of the Directorate for Organized Crime Control also asked many questions, threatened, exerted pressure. They didn’t write any protocols, they didn’t invite a lawyer. They kept me there for 2 hours, and after 9 p.m. they took me to the Investigations Committee for interrogation as a witness. I was allowed to go almost at midnight, after the interrogation,” Anastasiya Melnikava said.

On the same evening two guys, Yaraslau Ulyanenkau and Pavel, a citizen of Russia, were released on a written pledge not to leave the city. Maxim Pyakarski and the man who asked not to reveal his name are still kept in the remand prison, and Vyachaslau Kasinerau was found in a hospital under guard, he had a with a double fracture of the jaw. The young men refused to provide testimony, that is why they are threatened by being placed in detention until the trial.

As Yaraslau Ulyanenka told, on that evening he returned home from work, and after a while people with machine guns knocked down the door and burst into his flat.

“They stroke me down to the floor, handcuffed me and started to kick on the trunk, on the head, uttering threats. Then they were dragging me all around my flat, took me into the room, made me stand my face to the wall. They beat me on my legs, making me stand with my legs far apart, humiliating and beating me. After this “masks show” they went away, and police investigators entered the flat and started the search,” the guy said.

Later in the Investigations Committee Ulyanenkau experienced physical and psychological pressure, threats by problems and a prison term, he was told to give up other guys, who had made that. An officer of GUBOP also tried to agree upon cooperation with the young man over the phone. He presented himself as Ihar Lunevich.

In his, Yaraslau Ulyanenkau believed that actions of riot policemen and investigators are connected to the upcoming “elections.”

“In the run-up to the “elections” all youth movements which oppose the [official] ideology, are cracked down upon, and in this way people are suppressed,” the young man underlined.

At the moment all the young men are suspects. In case of being charged with the crime, making writings on walls in Belarusian, they can face up to 6 years in prison.