Judge Tatsyana Paulyuchuk: “President of World Association of Belarusians Batskauschyna artist Marachkin swore” (Photo)

A well-known Belarusian artist, the president of The World Association of Belarusians Batskauschyna (Ftatherland), member of the Soim of the Belarusian Popular Front party Alyaksei Marachkin has been sentenced by judge of Tsentralny district of Minsk Tastyana Paulichuk to 5 days of administrative arrest. Alyaksei Marachkin was charged with swearing near the police department of Tsentralny district of Minsk and convicted under Article 17.1 of the Administrative Code.

Alyaksei Marachkin, an artist whose exhibition was opened by the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gerd Pöttering, was placed to the special detention center on Akrestin Street yesterday.

“Seven militiamen and riot militiamen rushed into his workroom, where my father was working,” Ihar Marachkin, his son, said to the BPF press service. “They searched the room, and seized about 40 banners and posters, which were made in the workroom for the tomorrow’s street action. During the search the militiamen broke some ceramic items, staying on the shelves. They found the famous work Dolls and took it away, too. They didn’t take only portraits of public figures and blazonries.

Militiamen took Alyaksei Marachkin from his workroom and said to a neighbour they would guard him to the department of internal affairs of the Tsentralny district.

“I went to the department, but I haven’t found my father there,” Ihar Marachkin tells. “After a long conversation I found out he had been guarded from the workroom to the detention center on Akrestin Street.”