Parents of brothers Surhan persecuted for flags severely ill

On February 2 a case of Taras Surhan would be tried in the court of Chyhunachny district of Vitsebsk. He faces restriction of freedom for hanging white-red-white flags.

His elder brother Aleh Surhan is in the remand prison now. He was also detained in last September for hanging a national flag, but now he is charged with attacking a policeman, Radio Svaboda informs.

The first days of February have already been called Judgment Days by Vitsebsk oppositionists: it is a rare occasion when oppositionists are tried every day. And it is even rarer occasion when defendant are blood brothers.

35-year-old Taras Surhan is summoned to Chyhunachny district court of Vitebsk on February 2 not in relation to some concrete case, but for the three previous “violations” related top hanging national white-red-white flags. As least that what he had been told by police when summoned to a police department.

“In 2009 I was detained three times, and under Article 23.34 I was charged with illegal picketing and unsanctioned meetings. Besides, I have a criminal conviction not spent, that is why I can be sentenced to “administrative supervision”. Administrative supervision is a restriction of freedom when I cannot leave home after a certain time, cannot visit public places (markets, cinemas), and places where alcohol is sold by the glass, “Taras Surhan said.

The latter circumstance does not make Taras Surhan sad: he drinks almost no alcohol at all. As for his criminal past, the man has previous convictions for thefts. He does not conceal that, but he says that he has stared a new life, with other values.

Other restrictions are absolutely undesirable for him, Taras Surhan says. Firstly, as his elder brother Aleh is in remand prison. Surhan-elder is changed with attacking a policeman, though he also was detained for hanging a white-red-white flag. Article 364 of the Criminal Code, under which the former political prisoner Syarhei Parsyukevich was condemned by the way, envisages up to 6 years of imprisonment. It means that parents of the two brothers would be left without due care.

72-year old pensioners live in their private house. Aleh Surhan lives with them, and he is responsible for all household tasks. His mother suffers from asthma, and his father has cancer which was diagnosed recently. Aleh Surhan is kept I the remand prison, and now Taras helps their parents. In case the elder brother is sentenced to imprisonment for disobedience to a policeman, the younger would have either to move in to parents or to manage to be adapted to the conditions in some way. It is possible that he would have to leave job, in order “to live in two houses” – in his own house and in the parents’ one, where he needs to buy firewood, bring water, and buy medicines and food.

Taras and Aleh Surhan are friends of Vitsebsk-based activist Syarhei Kavalenka. Kavalenka has become famous as he hung out a white-red-white flag on the Christmas tree of Vitsebsk on Victory Square and went under criminal investigation. A criminal case was opened against him, and he thinks persecution of Surhan brothers is purposeful.

“Brothers Surhan are persecuted as the regime fears white-red-white flags. there were more of them in Vitsebsk than in any other city of Belarus, even in Minsk. They detected who had done that, and decided to remove us from struggle. But nobody would be able to do that. Flags in Vitsebsk appeared, are appearing and will appear in the future!” Kavalenka said.

The oppositionist believes that the entire democratic forces should come to help the repressed activists and their parents: “Otherwise what is the aim of different foundations created in our country? I am ready to help myself, even cut wood for Surhan’s mother”.

The fate of Taras Surhan is to be decided on February 2 in the court of Chyhunachny district. The trial over his brother Aleh Surhan charged with alleged biting a policeman during detention is to take place on February 9. Aleh Surhan is to be placed to a remand prison before that.