Blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski Sentenced To Another 15-Day Arrest

He is supposed to serve a total of 45 days of administrative arrest.

On May 19, author of the Country for Living YouTube channel Siarhei Tsikhanouski was sentenced to an administrative arrest for the term of 15 days. Such a decision was made by Judge Aliaksandr Makharou in the Savetski District Court of Homel, Radio Svaboda reports.

The court examined two protocols under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (violation of the procedure for holding a mass event). This is how the police regarded Tsikhanouski’s meetings with subscribers in Salihorsk and Miory.

The lawyer petitioned to summon witnesses. The judge rejected the petition: “We have protocols. We will work with what we have.”

The administrative case consists of a report from the Salihorsk District Department of Internal Affairs. Th police officers noted in it that “on May 5, while monitoring the Internet, they noticed a video called “Salihorsk, meeting with subscribers” posted on the Country for Living YouTube channel.

The police found out from the video that on March 25 Siarhei Tsikhanouski “organized and held a meeting of citizens” without the prior permission of the Salihorsk district executive committee. Tsikhanouski also “conducted a survey of citizens, including asked an unknown citizen named Ruslan: “Do we need a change of government?” and received a positive response.” Also, according to the police report, “Tsikhanouski and Niaronski (a blogger on the Slutsk for Life YouTube channel - edit.) discussed corruption among officials.”

During the trial, they showed a stream from Salihorsk on March 25. Tsikhanouski asked people: “Do you need a change of government”, and his interlocutors answered “yes”, and talked about their problems.

“What needs to be changed so that we have a country for living?” asked the blogger. “The power,” replied regular interlocutors from Salihorsk.

The administrative protocol was compiled by the police also in Miory. According to the report, “during the monitoring of the Internet, a video called “Miory, a city for life, talking with subscribers” was found on the Country for Living YouTube channel. In the video, the blogger conducted an “interview with citizens with whom he discussed the political and social situation in the country”, and in these actions there are signs of violation of Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. The police in Miory drafted protocols with regard to the local residents who took part in the meeting with Siarhei Tsikhanouski. This was reported in the court in Homel.

“There is a report from the Chief of the Miory District Police Department, he correctly determines what happened: “Tsikhanouski recorded an interview.” So it was. I approached one person, walked, greeted, asked a question - to one person! There was one person in the frame. The video shows that I am interviewing, communicating with people, there are no calls - why calling it a rally? ” Siarhei Tsikhanouski said during trial.

He explained to the judge how the videos were made. “And what if this is all set? What if this is a combination of different videos and stories? Maybe this is an actor in the frame? And what if they do editing, special effects? ” said the blogger.

He noted that the police in the protocols indicated the date of the crime on the day the video was posted on the YouTube channel. “It could be removed at any time, and published on the Internet any time - how can this be indicated as the date of the crime? I did not hold any rallies. If I held at least one rally, you would not mix it up with anything, I assure you! ” the blogger said in court.

Lawyer Aleh Yurchanka also asked the court to acquit his client, since his actions cannot be regarded as an offense.

Earlier, after a two-day persecution on May 6, the police detained Siarhei Tsikhanouski in Mahiliou by the decision of the Homel Savetski District Court on an administrative arrest.

Tsikhanouski had been in a pre-trial detention center in Homel for 13 days. From there, he was taken to a court hearing on May 18, where he was sentenced to another arrets for the term of 15 days.