New criminal case against Uladzimir Yaromenak

A new criminal case has been initiated against former political prisoner Uladzimir Yaromenak.

He is accused of violating the rules of preventive supervision, the press service of Young Front reports.

On July 14, on the day of Yaromenak's church wedding, an investigator called him and ordered to visit the police department on Monday. Yaromenak arranged to postpone the visit until Tuesday. On Tuesday, he was said that a criminal case over article 421 (violation of the rules of preventive supervision) has been initiated against him on May 24. The activist refused to give evidence, and the investigator proposed that he should come on July 18 with a lawyer.

“The investigator called me on Sunday evening and asked to come on Monday. I said I would be busy on Monday and we arranged to meet on Tuesday morning. The investigator handed me a notice informing about initiating a criminal case and carried out the first interrogation, but I refused to give evidence. I may face from six months in custody to a year of imprisonment under article 421 'Violation of the rules of preventive supervision”. The situation clearly demonstrates the 'changes' in our country. Foreign minister Makei was allowed to visit Europe. He probably told Europeans that we would have a wave of liberalisation, but Vasily Parfiankou has a new criminal case, Andrei Haidukou was given 1.5 years in prison, a new criminal case was initiated against me. It's clear that no liberlaisation can be expected in Belarus. I know my country. I am ready for everything. I don't worry about a severe sentence,” the Young Front activist told charter97.org.

It should be reminded that Young Front activist Uladzimir Yaromenak was arrested in the “mass disorders” case in January 2011. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison. He served his term in a correctional colony near Vitesbk until his pardon in August 2011. He was thrown behind several times after the release for administrative offences.

On March 15, 2013, Minsk's Pershamaiski district court extended the police supervision, which was imposed on the activist a year ago, for 6 months.

A new criminal case was initiated on July 12 against another activist involved in the December 19 case, Vasily Parfiankou. Parfiankou was summoned to the Pershamaiski district police department and told that he had the third criminal case for violating the rules of preventive supervision.