Two days in custody for being “too clever”

Dzmitry Khaladtsou from Mahilou was thrown into custody for two days without a court ruling.

He was detained on May 13. The court of Mahilou's Leninski district found him innocent and closed the administrative case on Amy 15, Radio Svaboda reports.

Dzmitry, 29, is an electrician. He and his friends were crossing the road when the green light was on on the evening of May 13. Two policemen accused them of violating traffic rules, because they saw the red light from their side of the road. It was later found out that the traffic lights didn't work properly.

“The police officers accused us of violating traffic rules. We argued with them during some minutes. One of the policemen said I was too bold and clever. They took me to a police station and searched me. A few policemen were search witnesses. I was photographed and fingerprinted. The policeman, who made a list of my belongings, made derogatory remarks. I said they had to explain why I had been detained, but they refused to say it. I was later told that I had been swearing and swinging my arms. They took me to a detention facility in Krupskaya Street,” the man said.

Dzmitry Khaladzou spent two nights in the detention facility, because it was a day off and courts did not work. He pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct at the trial on May 15.

“I gave my explanations. The policemen, who had detained me, failed to appear in court. The judge listened to my explanations and said she had no claims to me. I was released. I went to the court to take the court ruling on May 16 and they said to me the administrative case had been closed for failure to prove charges. I can receive the court ruling in three days,” the young man says.

Dzmitry Khaladtsou says he filed a complaint at the policemen who had detained him.