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Swedish judge extends detention period for Belarusian journalist

A Swedish judge has prolonged the period of detention for Volha Klaskowski, Alyaksey Litvinchyk, a friend of the Belarusian journalist currently in custody in Sweden, told BelaPAN.

Ms. Klaskowski is held in isolation and is not allowed to talk to anyone but her lawyer and jail guards. "Even when she's out for a walk, she may not talk to other inmates," said Mr. Litvinchyk.

He described the restrictions as disproportionate, noting that such measures are normally applied to people suspected of grave crimes.

Volha Klaskowski was arrested near Stockholm on March 30 on suspicion of attempting to murder her former husband. The 30-year-old woman reportedly stabbed the citizen of Sweden several times in the city of Haninge.

In late January, Swedish authorities rejected Ms. Klaskowski’s application for a residence permit and ordered the deportation of her and Miraslava Naumovich, her 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. In addition, Sweden’s social services took away her son, 10 months old now, because he holds both Swedish and Belarusian citizenships, and handed him over to his father.

Ms. Klaskowski, who contributed to the pro-opposition newspaper Narodnaya Volya, was granted political asylum in Sweden a few years ago. She lost her status of refugee after returning to Belarus in 2011 to help the family of her brother Alyaksandr Klaskowski, a former policeman who was arrested during a December 2010 post-election street protest in Minsk and sent to prison for participation in "mass disorder."

The woman left Belarus again in August 2011, one month before her brother was pardoned by Alyaksandr Lukashenka and released from prison.

Ms. Klaskowski married the Swede about a year ago and gave birth to their son in July 2012. However, she has been denied a Swedish residence permit twice. Her Schengen visa expired on February 28. //BelaPAN