Young Activist Arrested for 7 Days :: Charter'97 :: News

On April 2 a court of Leninski district of Minsk considered a case of Anton Ustsimchuk. Anton was preventively detained on March 24 and placed to a remand prison for two days.

Anton Ustsimchuk is charged with violation of the article 17.1 of the new Administrative Code. Reports of policemen were traditional: “he was walking, flourishing arms, and cursing”. A week ago the young man stated that the case had a political undertone, and asked for a lawyer, so the trial was postponed. This time a lawyer and witnesses arrived to the court, but it had almost no influence, Radio Racyja informed.

Judge Svyatlana Buraka suspended the meeting twice, first for 30 minutes, then for 5 minutes, left the court room. She was noticeably agitated, especially during the speech of the lawyer. Finally she delivered a sentence, which shocked the audience, 7 days of arrest.

It is obvious that event policemen were not ready for this end. From the building of the court Ustsimchuk went home, as there were no convoy policemen. Now the guy who has to spend in prison 5 more days, is waiting for summons to Mahilyou remand prison.