Peaceful demonstration in Minsk was called “mass riot” (Photo, Video)

22 people sentenced to 15 days of arrest for participation in the entrepreneurs’ protest action on 10 January, have been released today. As Anatol Lyabedzka, head of the United Civil Party, said the prosecutor’s office of Minsk initiated a case on “mass riot in Minsk” on 10 January and is carrying out investigation. “Mass riot” is a peaceful demonstration, dispersed brutally by the militia.

According to the Administrative Code, political prisoners serving their terms in the special prison facility on Akrestin Street, were to be released after 4.00pm, because most of the people had been detained at that time on 10 January. But representatives of oppositional parties and movements, relatives of the arrested and interested people came to meet the democratic activists, and the authorities may have been scared by a mass demonstration with flowers and national symbols near the gates of the prison.

All activists, arrested for 15 days, have been released in the morning. The people released are:

1. Raman Bahdanovich

2. Alyaksandr Barazenka

3. Paval Vinahradau

4. Arseny Pakhomau

5. Syarhei Klyueu

6. Palina Kuryanovich

7. Anatol Lyabedzka

8. Yan Mikhailau

9. Mikhail Pashkevich

10. Mikhail Kryvau

11. Alyaksandr Stsepanenka

12. Uladzimir Shyla

13. Anatol Shumchanka

14. Yury Barkun

15. Artsyom Dubsky

16. Andrei Radzivonau

17. Ihar Zhabarouski

18. Alyaksandr Vazhakou

19. Alyaksandra Lyndava

20. A.Y. Zorka

21. Yury Kuksyuk

22. Ales Charnyshou

Participants of the entrepreneurs’ rally stood trials in the courts of Tsentralny and Maskouski districts. The people were accused of violating two articles of the Administrative Code: “participation in unauthorised event” and “minor hooliganism.” Six activists - Raman Bahdanovich, Paval Vinahradau, Hanna Barazenka, Alyaksandra Lyndava, Ihar Zhabarouski and Yan Mikhailau went on hunger strike in protest.

The judgements were given by judges of Maskouski district Gusakova O.A., Rudnitskaya Y.B., Audzeyenka V.A., Kuznyatsova N.A., Shastakou Y.V., Kazak V.V., Fralova Y.G., Shylko Y.N., and judges of Tsentralny district Tatyana Paulyuchuk and Alyaksei Bychko.

All in all 23 people were got arrests for the action on 10 January. Tatyana Tishkevich, sentenced to 20 days of arrest, is still in special prison facility on Akrestin Street. It is known, the girl had been beaten brutally when being detained, and an emergency ambulance was called for her to the court. The girl is seriously ill now. According to Vera Stramkouskaya, Tishkevich is most likely to have lung troubles.

Leaders of entrepreneurs Alyaksandr Makayeu and Alyaksandr Taustyka as well as approximately 20 activists of entrepreneurs’ and youth movements, detained after the actions on 10 and 21 January, remain in the special prison facility on Akrestin Street.

By the way, detention conditions in the special prison facility on Akrestin Street can be compared only with tortures. According to Anatol Lyabedzka, the United Civil Party leader, they haven’t improved, it is still cold there and meal is worse than pig food. “One can sleep only dressed in three pairs of trousers and sweaters. My friends and relatives tried to pass me a sleeping bag several times, but the administration didn’t allow to pass it. Food parcels are also forbidden. What concerns prison food, my parents feed their pigs better,” Lyabedzka said to “Nasha Niva.”

The politician confirmed that investigators from the Minsk persecutor’s office visited political prisoners and interrogated them on the criminal case initiated upon mass riot in Minsk on 10 January. According to him, “A brigade of investigators headed by Mikhalchyk, head of the investigatory department at the city internal affairs department of the Minsk city executive committee, arrived at the special prison facility on 12 January.“

It should be reminded that Leu Margolin, one of the leaders of entrepreneurs’ movement, and Leu Shynkaryk, deputy head of the United Civil Party, were interrogated upon that case on 21 January. Among other thing, the investigators tried to find out who had offered to go to Independence Square and block off traffic on the avenue, and whether these acts were planned beforehand or spontaneous.

All people interrogated are regarded as witnesses on this criminal case.