Syarhei Kavalenka thrown into punishment cell

Syarhei Kavalenka, activist of the Conservative Christian Party BPF from Vitebsk, was thrown into a punishment cell in Mahilou penal colony No. 19.

BelaPAN news agency received this information from his wife Alena Kavalenka.

She says she and a lawyer visited the colony on August 10. They were told Syarhei Kavalenka had been placed in the punishment cell on July 28, just after a meeting with his relatives. “He was given 9 days in the punishment cells, but later he was left there for seven more days. He will be released only on August 14,” Alena Kavalenka said.

In her opinion, the opposition activist faced pressure because he continues to refuse to sign a document to admit his guilt. “They insist he should sign it, but he refuses, because he thinks he did not commit anything illegal,” the prisoner's wife says.

According to her, Syarhei companioned to the lawyer it's very cold in a cell at night – he has to get up and do physical exercises to warm up.