Policeman Broke Nose to Baranavichy Activist

19.10.2006.

On October 16 Baranavichy activists held a traditional action of solidarity. During the action one of the police officers severely beat youth activist Zmitser Paloika. The police also seized his camera which he used to take pictures of the action, a wallet with 50 thousand Belarusian rubles and some personal belongings. No report of seizure has been drawn.

Paloika spent the whole night at the police station. Next morning he was charged with using foul language, waving hands in a public place and organizing a fight with policemen. He was taken to court and fined 155 thousand rubles. The guy was not given any medical aid. The police also failed to return his personal belongings.

On October 18 the forensic medical expert examination showed that Zmitser Paloika has a fracture of a nose with bone dislocation.

Human rights defender Siarhei Housha helped the guy to write a complaint to the prosecutor’s office. Housha thinks the complaint should be satisfied, and the policeman – charged with severe beating.

Let us remind the readers that Zmitser Paloika has already been arrested several times during the presidential election in Baranavichy and at the tent city in Minsk.