Breus: There was pressure during interrogation and physical menace

Russian citizens Breus and Gaponov and a Belarusian citizen Myadzvedz have told about incarceration conditions in the pre-trial detention centre of Minsk city executive committee in Valadarski street.

The court of Maskouski district of Minsk has found Russian citizens guilty of participation in mass riots of December 19. But they were fined 300 basic units (about Br 10.5 million) and released in the courtroom. As said by Artsyom Breus, they had not been tortured, nut there was pressure on them during interrogation.

“When operation department officers came, they brought pressure to bear on us. There were threats of use of physical force, possible transfer to the KGB jail (political prisoners were kept in the pre-trial detention centre oft he Internal Affairs Ministry in Valadarski Street), however there have not been anything of that,” he said to the European Radio for Belarus.

The Russian citizens are probably to appeal from the judgements after consultations with their lawyers.

“We are at large, so we are satisfied with the verdict,” Breus said after his release.

Ivan Gaponov did not deny a possible relation of his detention with his being a Russian citizen. But he did not want to speak about that.

The verdict to 51-year-old Belarusian, Dzmitry Medzvedz, was harsher, though the evidentiary material was almost the same. He has not pleaded guilty in the court, and 15 injured policemen also told that they could not recognize him and have no claims against him. However, the prosecutor asked 4 years of prison for him. As a result, Myadzvedz was sentenced to 3 years of personal restraint without sending him to a detention institution, and he was released in the courtroom.

“Frankly speaking, I am so tired… My loved ones are here, and I am so happy about that,” Dzmitry Myadzvedz commented his release to the Euroradio. “The verdict is harsh, but it is the verdict.”

Breus and Gaponov say they are not going to leave the country so far. By the way, they are to stay under recognizance until the fine is repaid.