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Two more men given suspect status in riot case

The number of people with suspect status in a so-called mass riot case, which was opened in connection with the December 19 post-election protest in Minsk, has climbed to at least 10.

According to human rights defenders, suspect status has been given to Pavel Vinahradaw, an activist of the «Tell the Truth!» campaign, and Leanid Navitski, an authorized representative of candidate Andrey Sannikaw in the past presidential election.

Mr. Vinahradaw was arrested on Wednesday morning after police and KGB officers raided the apartment that he and his girlfriend rented in Minsk. The search of the apartment, which lasted for several hours and was completed at 5 a.m., was conducted in the presence of the owner of the apartment and neighbors. Mr. Vinahradaw was placed in the interior ministry’s detention center on Valadarskaha Street.

Mr. Navitski is free on his own recognizance.

The other eight people with suspect status in the case include former presidential candidates Ryhor Kastusyow and Dzmitry Uss, as well as Anton Davydzenka, Uselavad Kavalenka, Syarhey Klyuyew, Mikita Krasnow, Uladzimir Loban and Andrey Fedarkevich. Most of them were declared suspects after they had served a jail sentence over the December 19 demonstration.

Formal charges in the case have already been brought against at least 25 other people, including five former presidential candidates: Ales Mikhalevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, Vital Rymashewski, Andrey Sannikaw and Mikalay Statkevich.