Wednesday evening, about 7.30 p.m. the youth opposition movement activists Zmitsier Hvedaruk and Aleh Korban were released from “Amerykanka” prison in Minsk. They were arrested on 4 February and spent 3 days and nights in cells of the internal KGB prison. They are suspected of participating in the unregistered organization, which is a serious crime according to the Belarusian Criminal Code. Zmitsier Hvedaruk and Aleh Korban have given a written undertaking not to leave Minsk before the hearing of their cases in court.
“Nasha Niva” was the first media to interview Zmitsier after his release:
“Actually, I don’t complain of anything, the conditions in the prison were normal, much better, that in the prison on Akrestsina street in Minsk. We had bed sheets, didn’t have to sleep on bare wood. Still, we had no WC, just a bucket. The guards treated us ok. Although near to each other, we were in solitary cells. Psychologically, being confined alone in a cell is very difficult, there were no books to read, you stay alone with your thoughts. We have been questioned two times. I was questioned on Tuesday, Aleh – on Monday. Today we were also shortly questioned. On Sunday the KGB agents talked to us, they were very tolerant, tried even to speak to us as if we were their friends. They asked us simple questions during the next questionings, sometimes, they asked them in a circle, it was very interesting to observe their methods… The food was very bad, the last two days I hold a hunger strike. Till the last second I didn’t believe that we will be released, I even didn’t believe the lawyer when he said that we will probably be released today. I am suspected of being a leader of the Minsk branch of “Young Front”, Aleh Korban – in being a leader of one of its departments. I am going to continue to live my real live. I am ready to go to the very end. That’s why I won’t give up my public activities”.
