Vitebsk human rights defender told police about discount campaign

A human rights defender from Vitebsk was taken for account for participating in a photo session.

Human rights activist Pavel Levinau from Vitebsk thinks the actions by major Aliasandr Rybakou were illegal. The police officer asked the activist to say everything he knows about the campaign on November 5, 2014. Pavel Levinau wrote about all discount campaigns in local shops in a letter to the policeman and added: “I have no information about other campaigns.” He also filed a complaint to a prosecutor's office, Radio Racyaja reports.

“Many people complained to a prosecutor's office about Rybakou's illegal actions, assuming power and performing functions of another branch of government. If I am not mistaken, a prosecutor ordered the police chief to carry out an internal check. I think this police officer cannot be independent enough to carry out legal proceedings in relation to me.”

Pavel Levinau failed to visit the police department on summons, because he is looking for a lawyer in Lithuania. The activist and other participants of the photo session in Illyinski Street faced charges. They took a photo to continue the theme raised by an unknown street artist, who drew birds made of a newspaper breaking free from cages. The participants of the photo session posed with paper cages and origami birds. Aliaksandr Rybakou, the head of the crime prevention department of the Chyhunachny district police department, brought administrative charges against the activists. He says they held a picket to “express their public and political beliefs”.