Ivan Amelchanka: “One should not stop even if they jail you one time”

The author of “Musorok” poster promises new creative ideas.

Ivan Amelchanka, released after two terms in custody, told Nasha Niva newspaper about detention and trial.

Was it your first term in custody?

No. I was given 15 days during last year's silent protests. I was clapping my hands.

How were the trials conducted?

I was tried for disorderly conduct. As for the second trial,  it was found out that I had been swearing near house No. 136, but I don't remember the street.

Were you able to leave the detention centre after the first 15 days?

No. I went downstairs to a duty officer at the detention centre. I was met there. I saw a police car when I was going downstairs. I didn't leave the territory of the detention centre.

Did you try to prove absurdity of the situation at the trial?

A policeman came to me in the Maskouski district police department and asked how many days I want to spend in the detention centre. He said I would be given 5 days if I didn't drag the trial. I believed him, but I did not admit the guilt. I was given 10 days in custody though I did not call an ambulance and didn't ask to change the judge.

Were you ready for detention when you went to police?

Of course. I could not imagine they would not jail me. They had an order, They were looking for me, I prepared a bag at home so that relatives were able to pass it to me in the detention centre.

Was the policeman shown on the video present at the trial?

Yes, he was.

Did he say he was offended?

I don't know if he took offence or not. I didn't talk to him. He drew up a police report only when I went to police.

You talked to deputy police chief at the Minsk city executive committee Ihar Yauseyeu. What did you talk about?

It was in the Leninski district police department on the day when I was detained. He wanted to show he was a boss. We talked for about two minutes.

Are you going to stop your activity?

I will continue. One shouldn't stop even if they jail you one time.

I do not violate laws. I do not look for troubles. I don't think I'll face close surveillance. I do not belong to any organization.

Police began to hunt Ivan Amelchanka after a rally on April 26. The young man raised a poster “Musorok” (a Russian slang word for a policeman literally meaning “garbage”) near a plainclothes police officer who was filming participants of the peaceful sanctioned rally. Ivan Amelchanka said in court he used letters of the Latin alphabet and the poster should be read as “My cop ok” that can be considered a praise to police. The judge didn't take this explanation into account. Ivan was jailed for 15 days and then to 10 days.