Ales Mikhalevich: I was jailed illegally and now released illegally

The former presidential candidate has been released on his own recognizance, but he didn't sign any documents.

Ales Mikhalevich talked to Radio Svaboda after his release from a police department.

– What happened to you after you were ordered to get off the train?

– I took a night train from Vilnius to Hudahai. I was ordered to get off the train in Hudahai. I spent several hours at the border checkpoint with border guards. They then took me to the police department of the Astravets district. I spent five hours at the police department. My status was a detained person. I was then told that pre-trial restrictions for me were changed, and I was released on my own recognizance. I still have charges in the case of mass disorders. They said I would be released on my own recognizance instead of being held in custody. I refused to sign that document. They called two witnesses, they put their signatures, and they said I was free. I am now in Astravets, trying to find something to get to Minsk.

– What do you plan to do?

– I will try to get my passport back and to get the criminal case closed. I have a lot of to do.

– Where is your passport?

– My passport is in the KGB. I don't know if it is attached to the case or it is just kept in the KGB. I don't have a passport now. I showed my military card to enter the country.

– Did you make any attempts to return your passport?

– I filed motions to close the criminal case. All of them were dismissed. I was told that I had to visit Minsk for investigatory activities, and then a decision would be taken. I never asked about my passport.

– Did the police say what they would do? Do you need to appear at a police station or something like that? Did they give you a summons?

– They didn't give me anything. They just got rid of me. I received a copy of the order to change pre-trial restrictions for the release on own recognizance. That's all. They said I was free.

– What do you think about how you were welcomed at home?

– I think I was jailed illegally and now released illegally. Any lawyer understands that the release on one's own recognizance means that a person must sign a document, obliging him not to leave the country. I didn't sign anything like that. I don't feel I have any obligations.

Ales Mikhalevich was detained this morning in Hudahai on his way to Belarus.

Like most other candidates, Ales Mikhalevich was detained in early hours of December 20. He was released from the KGB jail on his own recognizance a month later. He organised a press conference, where he said about torture in jail. Mikhalevich secretly left Belarus in March and received political asylum in the Czech Republic. Mikhalevich was detained abroad several times as a person wanted by Interpol. The politician was officially informed in July 2012 that he was removed from the Interpol database of wanted persons.