Courts overloaded with political prisoners. The next is Sayrhei Parsyukevich

• 22.04.2008, 8:35

Political prisoner Syarhei Parsyukevich, entrepreneur from Vitsebsk, is to have trial 22 April in Minsk.

The process is to begin in the Maskouski district court of Minsk at 12.00pm, the judge is Uladzimir Audzeenka.

Political prisoner Syarhei Parsyukevich was arrested and guarded to the pretrial detention center on Valadarski Street on 4 March, when he came to investigator Dzmitry Razanka for questioning. A criminal case on the article 364 (violent acct or threat of violence against a militiaman) was instituted against Parsyukevich on 31 January.

The businessman faces up to 6 years of imprisonment. He is accused of beating up duty officer Alyaksandr Dulup when serving his 15-day arrest in the detention center. The entrepreneur says the militiaman was beaten him, and accused Parsyukevich to avoid responsibility for his actions.

Lawyer Vera Stramkouskaya visited Syarhei Parsyukevich in the pretrial detention center on 10 April. According to her, warm weather caused asthma aggravation of her client. “Sayrhei has difficulty with breathing. He shares a cell with 12 peoepl, though it is designed for 10 persons, which doesn’t make the atmosphere healthier,” V. Stramkouskaya notes.