Oppositionist Taras Surhan transferred from prison to hospital
- 18.01.2010, 13:34
The state of health of Vitsebsk activist sentenced to 7 days of arrest has deteriorated seriously.
Taras Surhan, an activist of the emerging Belarusian Christian Democracy and “young Belarus” sentenced by Chyhunachny court of Vitsebsk to 7 days of arrest for alleged hooliganism (foul speech) is in the hospital, Radyjo Racyja informs.
Tatsyana Sevyarynets, the leader of the BCD branch in Vitsebsk region notes that two days had been spent by Surhan in the remand prison before the court which hadn’t been taken in consideration.
Judge said that those two days were a detention, and 7 days more would be a punishment. But it is illegal, Sevyarynets said. “Five days are left, but he was placed to the hospital. He has fever, 39.6 C. He was transferred to infectious diseases hospital. But he was said he is to be arrested again after discharge,” Tatsyana Sevyarynets said.
The activist had fever during the court session too. But the court trial was not postponed.
He was detained on January 9 when he was taking out the trash. Tsyhankova, a judge of the Chyhunachny district court of Vitsebsk, found him guilty of “hooliganism” – using foul language. This article is widely used in Belarus to arrest oppositionists to hide political motivations of repressions.
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.
On January 12 the oppositionist was released under his own recognizance.