Pavel Svyardlou: I was detained for group swearing

Euroradio reporter Pavel Svyardlou was detained near building 31 in Masherau Avenue at 12.30 p.m. According to the police report, he gathered there with 22 other people and violated article 17.1 of the Administrative Code: they were swearing together ignoring remarks made by the police. We discussed it with our reporter after he had been released thanks to the interference of press secretary of Minsk City Department of the Interior Alyaksandr Lastouski.

 

Euroradio: Pavel, how did you like July3?

Svyardlou: It was a wonderful day; I had had my sleep out for the first time in two weeks although it was a bit hard there. I was in a cell with 9 guys and there was the inscription “Young Front” above the door. We were not the first people to be closed up there.

 

Euroradio: You were not the last either. How and with whom were you detained?

Svyardlou: They were detained without any rules. They detained a guy who was wearing flip-flops, shorts and a T-shirt - an ordinary summer passer-by. According to him, he and his friend managed to pass the turnstiles but their friends – didn’t. They walked about 200 metres away and were “asked to follow the police”. It seemed to me that we got detained to prevent us from joining the actions but almost none of us had been going to take part in any actions.

 

We were delivered to Frunze District Department of the Interior and policemen asked us: “What have you been detained for?” The guys asked to repeat: “Do you need the report or the real facts?” We knew what we were accused of it the report but it was not true. They detained those who were applauding or turning their backs to Alyaksandr Lukashenka. However, there were not many of them among the detained. They arrested people who were taking pictures with their cell-phones. They approached me from behind, took me by the elbow and said: “Follow us, please”. There were 12 people in the police bus and they started applauding. Three more people were delivered later – two of them were journalists of the state mass media.

 

Euroradio: What were you accused of?

Svyardlou: According to the report, 23 strangers gathered near building 31 in Masherau Avenue at 12.30 p.m. and started swearing, waving their hands and ignoring remarks. It is said that people kept approaching us and saying: “Guys, calm down, will you?” and we just did not react.

 

Euroradio: Will there be a trial?

Svyardlou: There may be a trial. There is a report and my passport is in the police. Everything is possible.
 

Euroradio: You were detained at 12.30 p.m. and released 10 hours later. Did you have supper?

Svyardlou: No, we didn’t have supper although we had to sign the statement that we had been “put down for allowances”. The guys rebelled in the evening, they quarrelled with some woman because there were no matches and supper.

 

Euroradio: It’s good you will have supper at home.