Beaten by police Molchan fined 800,000 rubles

The court of the Pershamaiski district of Minsk issued a 800,000 ruble fine againt an activist of European Belarus civil campaign.

On May 19, Andrei Molchan raised a Belarusian national flag in a crowded place in Minsk to show his solidarity with political prisoner Syarhei Kavelenka. He was attacked and beaten by police officers, who snatched the flag out of his hands. He was then thrown into a car, where he was beaten till he lost consciousness. Molchan came around in the Pershamaiski district police department. Policemen had to call an ambulance and Molchan was taken to hospital.

Alyaksandr Kutsko and Alyaksandr Ihnatovich gave false evidence at the trial that the activist had used obscene words. Andrei Molchan told charter97.org website they were the first to see the flag and call police. Both witnesses gave confused evidence. They said the activist had not been beaten, but attacked them himself. Molchan says they did not use force against him. The policemen, who beat the activist, did not appear in the court. He thinks police chiefs from the Pershamaiski police department decided not to show sadistic officers.

On the basis of false evidence by Kutsko and Ihnatovich, judge Syarhei Lyushtik found Molchan guilty of violating article 23.34 and issued a fine of 800,000 Belarusian ruble.