What’s the reason of Dzyanisau’s Arrest? :: Charter'97 :: News

A young activist, a participant of a tent camp in Minsk Dzyanis Dzyanisau, has been kept in custody in Homel remand prison for a week approximately. The activist was arrested in a train, and he was transported to Homel. It is excluded that he is to be taken to Minsk today.

Dzyanis Dzyanisau has become famous after events on October Square in Minsk during presidential elections last year. It was he who with the help of his friends started to set up tents on the square. After that he served a 10-days arrest in Akrestsyn Street for that.

A young activist Ales Mazur told to the Polish Radio about possible reasons for his detention:

“In summer they held a rally in Vitsebsk. A criminal action was brought up for that, for alleged organized actions of a group which caused mass disorder. Two persons were targeted in the investigation then, though more activists had been arrested. Tatsyana Elavaya was among them. In fact, she escaped from Belarus and studies in Vilnius now. Dzyanis stayed in Belarus, though he went underground. Thus, this arrest is most likely connected to this case, as they haven’t done anything new”.

Tatsyana Dzyadok, a friend of Dzyanis, says that she wasn’t allowed to bring him food and warm clothes until the day before yesterday. Yesterday Dzyanis’ brother managed to bring things to him to Homel. After arrest Dzyanisau told about details of the detention on the phone:

“They presented an arrest warrant. Article 342 Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus “Organizing of group actions roughly violating public order” was mentioned there. It was indicated there that he is to be kept in custody. First he was taken to a police department in Homel. Later he was taken to a remand prison. He hadn’t been presented a charge yet. It could be done after he would be transported. He is to be taken to Minsk, and later to Vitsebsk. It is said officially that the date of transporting him would be known on the day of transportation”

Meanwhile, lawyers haven’t been allowed to visit Dzyanisau yet. It is possible only after his arrival to Vitsebsk.

Dzyanis’ mother Raisa has phoned Homel remand prison many times, however no information has been given to her:

“He is to be transported on February 24, but it can happen of February 23. Nothing is said about charges. He is to be placed to the remand prison No.2 in Vitsebsk. I do not understand why he is detained. He could give a written undertaking not to leave the place. He hadn’t committed any crime. He was just arrested in a train”.

A criminal case against Dzyanis Dzyanisau has been lasting for half a year already. More than 80 persons have been interrogated in this case. Searches in the apartments of “Bunt” activists have taken place many times. Dzyanisau faces up to 3 years of restriction of freedom under Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.