Parfyankou sentenced to 6-month custody (Photo, video)

• 29.05.2012, 9:14

The court found the former political prisoner guilty of violating the rules of preventive surveillance.

A criminal case against Vasily Parfyankou was heard by the Pershamaiski district court. He was accused of violating the rules of preventive surveillance (article 421 of the Criminal Code of Belarus), Radio Svaboda reports.

The case was heard by judge Syarhei Bandarenka, who sentenced Viasna human rights centre chairman Ales Byalayatski to 4.5 years in a penal colony on November 24, 2011. Styapurka was a prosecutor.

Vasily Parfyankou was put under preventive surveillance for one year on January 5, 2012. The Pershamaiksi district department of the Investigation Committee informed the former political prisoner about opening a criminal case on April 19.

The former political prisoner told journalists before the trial he did not expect anything good. He said he felt it was his last day outside prison. The former political prisoner explains the prosecution with his political activity: he remained active after the release from prison and took part in pickets of solidarity with political prisoners.

The former political prisoner did not admit his guilt. The opposition activist said he had been placed under preventive surveillance after serving 12 days in custody for an action to mark one year since the post-election protests.

“I went out to buy cigarettes on January 17, 2012, when a violation was recorded,” Parfyankou said.

“I think I was put under preventive surveillance to stop my political activity. I am a public activist and participate in actions,” Parfyankou told the court.

“I do not consider I committed an offence by going to the store,” he added.