Vasily Parfyankou fined for supervision violation

A former political prisoner was punished for not being at home during a regular check.

Charter97.org has learnt it from human rights activist Anastasia Loika.

A decision to issue a fine of 800,000 rubles was taken today by judge Yury Harbatouski at the Pershamaiski district court. It has been the first sanction against the former political prisoner after his release from the detention facility in Baranavichy on February 9.

Vasily Parfyankou was the first person convicted in the case of opposition protests of December 19, 2010. He was sentenced to 4 years in a maximum security penal colony in February 2011. Parfyankou was pardoned by Lukashenka in August 2011.

He was put on preventive supervision in January 2012. In April, the Investigation Committee initiated a new criminal case against him for violating the rules of the supervision.

Parfyankou was accused of being absent at home without good reason two times, for which he received two administrative sanctions during the year. Parfyankou said he had gone out for a couple minutes to buy food in a shop.

On May 29, Minsk's Pershamaiski district court found Parfyankou guilty of violating the rules of preventive supervision and sentenced him to 6 months in custody. The Minsk city court upheld the decision.

13 political prisoners remain in jails in Belarus. Rights of 38 former prisoners are still restricted.