Response Received from Authorities Regarding the Release of Belarusian Activist Pavel Levinov
Background
In a letter issued to the Oktyabrsky District Court of Vitebsk city in Belarus, Civil Rights Defenders calls for the immediate release of Pavel Levinov and for all administrative charges to be dropped against him. He was sentenced to 15 days in prison while acting in his capacity as observer while monitoring the peaceful protests of 26 March for the Belarusian-Helsinki Committee.
Civil Rights Defenders calls on the High Court to act in accordance with the international obligations taken by the Republic of Belarus and to immediately stop the administrative proceedings against Pavel Levinov as it is clear there were no elements of administrative offence in the actions. committed by him.
Update 16 May 2017
On 16 May 2017 Civil Rights Defenders received a reply from A.G. Rukol the Deputy Head of the Department of Internal Affairs of Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee stating ”at the moment there are no grounds for sending a petition to the Oktyabrsky District Court of Vitebsk to relieve Levinov from the administrative penalty or to change it to a softer one”. He had been sentenced to 15 days in prison while monitoring the peaceful protests of March 26 for the Belarusian- Helsinki Committee.
It also mentions the options open to Levinov should he require medical assistance.
”On Approval of Rules of Internal Order of Places of Administrative Detention” in the presence of complaints from the side of detained on the deterioration of health and (or) obvious signs of a disease and lack of emergency medical care, the chief of the place of administrative detention or the person on duty immediately calls for emergency medical crew. If, based on a conclusion from a medical officer of the place of administrative detention or from a medical officer from emergency medical crew, a detainee needs medical assistance in a hospital setting, he/she is sent to the public health-care institution”.
Civil Rights Defenders calls for the immediate release of Pavel Levinov and to have all administrative charges dropped against him.
Download Civil Rights Defenders’ letter to the Oktyabrsky District Court of Vitebsk city in Belarus in Russian or English.
