Mikhal Pashkevich: “People kept like animals in jail on Akrestin Street”
- 28.07.2008, 15:36
“People are kept like animals in the jail on Akrestin Street, they have no ability to move. They leave the jail washed-out and ill,” Mikhal Pashkevich, released on 26 July, told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center.
– Mikhal, you were arrested when a week passed after the blast in Minks. How did it happen?
– Our organisation “Young Democrats” had a meeting on 10 July. I received a phone call saying our activist Alyaksandr Serhienka had been arrested on suspicion of blast organising. We decided to react to these outrageous actions and went to the KGB building together. But we didn’t receive clear explanations. KGB officers were rude and refused to say what happened with the detained person. We didn’t know anything and went to the KGB the next day. There were many people who asked why Paval Kuryanovich, Anton Koipish and other peoepl had been arrested. But we weren’t said any information again. As soon as I left the KGB building, I saw many riot militiamen. When Vital Stazharou and I were near GUM store, we saw a “tail”. Militia officers in civvies reached us in Nyamiha Street and arrested. They didn’t even show their documents. We were guarded to Tsentralny district militia department, where we met Young Democrats activist Kiryl Paulouski. Militiamen phoned to anybody and asked what they should do with us. They didn’t manage to arrest us in blast case, so they decided to throw us to jail for allegedly “using of foul language”.
– Were you questioned in the blast case during the arrest?
– No, I wasn’t. I was in jail when the bomb exploded. From 28 June to 5 July. I was serving my arrest on false accusation of “using of foul language”. So, I had a cast-iron alibi.
– How did you serve the arrest?
– Sergeant Vadzim Yakimchyk made the time in jail more unpleasant. He rushed into the ward at 6 am and shouted “Get up!” in his view, we must stand in the ward from 6 am and lie after 10 pm. He was constantly watching us in an eyehole and writing reports to the administration. It has been the first time when I met it. By the way, he was actively covered by warrant officer Dulub, the person, due to him Syarhei Parsyukevich got 2 years in prison. It was disgusting to meet this man. Parsyukevich’s family has remained without money, while a half of his pension is given to Dulub as compensation for “moral damage”.
The cell was searched often. Even my personal belongings were seized. But after I had written a complaint, they had to return them. Jail officers exceeded their power, the conditions in jail have worsened. It’s not a secret that something is changed there only by virtue of the opposition. Thanks to Shchukin, who gained much. But it’s hard there now. We had no walks, no parcels from outside. It was very hot, even I felt badly, though I had never faced problems with blood pressure before. Healthy people get in the jail on Akrestin Street, but they are kept there like animals, they have no ability to move and leave the jail washed-out and ill,