Vitsebsk oppositionist arrested for… taking out trash

• 11.01.2010, 12:15

An activist from Vitsebsk, Taras Surhan, was detained when he took out the trash. He was charged with “petty hooliganism”.

Taras Surhan told to BelaPAN that he was detained on January 9, when he left his apartment with his future wife to take out the trash. “As I threw the rubbish into the waste bin, the unknown in mufti ran from behind, forced me into the car and took me away. Then I was placed in another car, with policemen, and taken to the police department of Chyhunachny district of Vitsebsk,” Surhan said.

A report under Article 17.1 of the Administrative Code was drawn up against him. He was charged with petty hooliganism. Until January 11 Surhan was kept in the remand prison.

“Today, despite of the fact that the court works since a.m., they started the trial at 8.30 a.m. I made a motion to give me an attorney. The judge called the people whom I enumerated as attorneys, but it turned out all of them were occupied. So a summons for January 22 was given to me. But from the court I was taken to the police department of Chyhunachny district of Vitsebsk again. I was there till about 10.30 a.m. a secretary of the court came to me and gave me a new summons, for January 15, 9 a.m.,” Surhan said.

As said by the activist, he connects his arrest with the case of Vitsebsk oppositionist Syarhei Kavalenka, detained on January 7. Kavalenka is suspected of placing a white-red-white flag at the top of the main Christmas tree of the city. A criminal action for hooliganism has been opened against him, he faces up to 6 years of imprisonment.

“My arrest us a beginning of provocations against all oppositionists of Vitsebsk, after a white-red-white flag appeared on the top of the main Christmas tree. Now provocations will be used against all oppositionists of Vitsebsk, preventive detentions used; they would be charged with made-up violations. The regime has fear, and their actions would be harsh,” Surhan said.

He noted that the unknown in mufti are watching outside his house in his yard.