Aksana Pachobut: Andrei did not agree not to leave the city

Journalist of “Gazeta Wyborcza” Andrzej Pachobut has been arrested for three days for violating the terms of his release on recognizance. Let us remind you that a criminal case for “insult of the President” has been started against him recently. Pachobut was going to visit Minsk to take part in a video conference with MEPs yesterday and was detained on his way there.

Euroradio has talked to Aksana Pachobut, Andrzej’s wife, on air. She has visited the detention centre he is kept in today.

Euroradio: Did Pachobut give a written undertaking not to leave the city?

Aksana Pachobut: “As far as I know, he did not sign anything. They showed him a document that consisted of four paragraphs. He signed three of them and refused to sign the first one explaining it by the fact that it was his job and that he had to leave Hrodna from time to time. He was let off but got detained for the second time and delivered to Hrodna”.

Euroradio: Where was he detained?

A. Pachobut: “Near Skidzel, that’s in Hrodna District. On his way to Minsk. He had not left the district and was detained near Skidzel”.

Euroradio: When did it happen and how long will he stay in the detention centre?

A. Pachobut: “He was detained after 10 p.m. yesterday. He was officially detained for three days. It was done in the framework of his criminal case, for leaving the city”.

Euroradio: Can they prolong the term of detention?

A. Pachobut: “They can prolong it until the trial; they can change the measure of restraint”.


Euroradio: Have you you managed to send him a parcel?

A. Pachobut: “I have, it was delivered in the framework of the criminal case and not because of the three-day arrest”.

Euroradio: What does the lawyer say, is he going to appeal this detention?

A. Pachobut: “The lawyer has talked to the investigator. The investigator has not said anything; he believes he had the right to detain him. The lawyer says that he is going to appeal it”.