Prison administration refuses to release Ivan Mikhailau

• 10.03.2010, 12:14

On March 9, the secretary of the Minsk region court told Ivan Mikhailau’s father and sister, who were waiting for him at the prison gates, the administration refused to release Mikhailau.

The prison administration said an extract from the court decision wasn’t enough to release the prisoner. They demand to give them the full text of the court’s judgement on overturning the sentence to Mikhailau, Radio Svaboda reports. The young man will have to spend this night in prison.

We remind that yesterday the panel of judges of the Minsk regional court considered the appeal of Ivan Mikhailau who had been imprisoned for alleged draft evasion.

The ruling of the Minsk district court was found unlawful. The court ruled out to release Ivan Mikhailau from Zhodzina prison on his own recognizance until the new consideration of the case.

Mikhailau was detained in Salihorsk. On December 15, the member of the Jewish Messianic congregation “New Covenant” was found guilty of draft evasion. The young man refused to go to military service as it contradicts his religious believes, and he demanded to offer him civil service under Article 57 of the Constitution of Belarus.

Ivan Mikhailau is recognized prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.