Journalist beaten at the hearing of the graffiti case

tut.by

Pavel Dabravolski, a reporter for the tut.by portal, was detained and beaten in court of the Frunzienski district.

Before the start of the trial, the activists Pavel Siarhei and Maksim Shytsik displayed a banner reading “No To Political Persecution”. They also chanted, “Art Is No Crime”. Then they were forcibly taken out of the courtroom.

Pavel Dabravolski, a reporter for the tut.by portal, who was covering the trial, was also detained along with the activists, HRC “Viasna” informs. Right after their detention the activists and the journalist were beaten by police officers.

After that the two activists and the journalist were taken to the police station and charged Articles 24.1 of the Administrative Code (“contempt of court”) and Article 23.4 (“disobeying legitimate demands of officials”). Then they were brought back to the court of the Frunzienski district to stand trial, while their personal belongings were left in the police department. The detainees showed signs of beatings.

As a result, the judge - Erokhina Maria – sentenced Maksim Shytsik and Pavel Dabravolski to a fine of 9,450,000 Belarusian rubles each, while Pavel Siarhei was fined 10.5 mln rubles. The charges were based on testimony from a police officer, who, according to the convicts, had beaten them.

Pavel Dabravolski says his cell phone was ceased, all data were deleted, BAJ reports. Several employees of the special forces knocked him down and beat with legs for 20 minutes, he said. The reporter noted he had his press badge on, and the police officers saw it.