European Belarus campaign activist is in emergency hospital

• 21.05.2012, 13:25

In spite of strong headache Andrei Mouchan told charter97.org website how he had been beaten by police.

Andrei Mouchan was beaten in the evening of May 19 for raising a national white-red-white flag near Pershamaiski department store in Minsk. An activist of European Belarus civil campaign did it to show his solidarity with political prisoner Syarhei Kavalenka, who was convicted for hanging the banned Belarusian flag.

“Policemen attacked me and tried to snatch the flag out of my hands. They began to beat me. There were at least five men. All policemen were in uniform. They were kicking me and beating me with fists. I do not remember much. I fell unconscious several times. I came round only in the Pershamaiski district police department. An ambulance was called. A policeman accompanied me to hospital. He followed me everywhere and went away only after I was told I should stay at hospital. They did not show up here anymore,” Andrei Mouchan said.

The activist of European Belarus civil campaign remains at hospital. A broken jaw and a spinal cord injury are suspected. Doctors decided Mouchan should stay at hospital for examination.

Asked if he will appeal against police brutality, Mouchan said: “At the moment, I'd like to recover. I am hardly speaking. I have an awful headache.”