Mikalaj Dziakok’s detention is extended until 24 December. Mikalaj is suspected of organizing the protest near the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense in spring last year. Altogether he will now have to spend a minimum of 3 months in detention. Mikalaj is still not allowed a meeting with his parents.
According to the information obtained by Human Rights activists, all incidents that involved the use of firebombs, torches and stones during the last several years are now combined in a single criminal case. The case is being investigated by the Department of Preliminary Investigation of Minsk city police.
Mikalaj Dziadok was arrested on 3 September on suspicion of participation in the attack on the Russian Embassy in Minsk. On 1 October he was instead charged with participating in the last year protest near the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense against the Belarusian-Russian joint military exercise “West-2009”.
Dziadok is charged with “hooliganism perpetrated by a group” under Art. 339, part 2 of the criminal code. He was first kept in the Temporary Detention center on Akrestsin street in Minsk, and on September 24 transferred to the Investigatory Isolation Facility on Valadarski street, where he now awaits his trial. During this period, for a reason unknown, he was transferred to the detention facility in the town of Zhodzina only to be returned back to prison on Valadarski street the very next day.
Simultaneously, Siarhej Sljusar, who was detained in Babrujsk since 17 October, was released with no charges brought against him, possibility remains of him being re-arrested.
Architect Anton Novikau, who had been arrested in relation to the same incidents, is now also free after spending three days in detention on Akreststin street. No charges were brought against him.