Sevyarynets forced to watch state-run Belarusian TV
- 12.08.2011, 15:48
Paval Sevyarynets has arrived to the correctional facility, to the village of Kuplin, Pryzhany district, Brest region.
“The special commandant’s office is situated a few kilometers from Pryzhany, in a former military garrison. It is a usual forced-labour open prison. The regime is stricter than in Malae Sitna,” Sevyarynets said to BelaPAN.
It should be noted that since August 2005 till May 2007 the politician served the custodial restraint term in an open-type correctional facility in the village of Malae Sitna, Polatsk district, Vitsebsk region. He worked in a local forestry enterprise. Then Sevyarynets was convicted for organizing mass unsanctioned protests against official results of the parliamentary election and referendum in October 2004 in Minsk.
The regime is harsher, as the special commandant’s office is situated in Kuplin, while a branch was situated in Malae Sitna. “The regime is stricter, as those who do not have a working place, are not allowed to leave the building of the commandant’s office: they cannot go to church, to the street or to the yard. We are staying inside the building. After a roll-call those who do not go to work, are taken to the assembly hall, and they are to watch TV there. There they have either Belarusian state TV channel (BT) or soap operas,” the politician said.
At the same time, the forced labour facility has a surprisingly rich library with Belarusian books. “They have Karatkevich in Belarusian, Yanka Maur, Yanka Bryl, and even some biblical books. That is why I can take books in the library and read them while the TV set is mumbling,” he said.
Sevyarynets has already filed an application for a permission to visit the church every Sunday. At the moment the issue of his employment is being decided.
We remind that Paval Sevyarynets, campaign chief of Vital Rymasheuski, a presidential candidate in 2010 election, was convicted by the court of Zavadski district of Minsk of the crime under Article 342 Part 1 of the Criminal Code (organizing and preparation of actions grossly violating public order, or active participation in them). This offence is punished by deprivation of freedom for up to 3 years. Sevyarynets was sentenced to 3 years of restriction of freedom with sending him into an open prison.