‘I Was Going To Work But Ended Up In Jail’

One of the victims of the fire in the Vitsebsk shopping center “Belarus” was held in a temporary detention center.

Last week, a fire broke out in the shopping center “Belarus” in Vitsebsk. After that, one of the victims spent two days in a temporary detention center, the Telegram channel “Vitsebsk, I'm walking!” reports.

This refers to Pavel Klimionak, the owner of the Reanimator point, which repairs phones. The man posted a video on his social media in which he said that he was detained on his way to work on Monday, December 16. He spent two days in the detention center.

According to the Telegram channel “Vitsebsk, I'm walking!”, an administrative protocol was drawn up against Klimionak for “disobeying a lawful order or demand of an official in the performance of their official duties” (Article 24.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). It is unknown what exactly he was charged with.

“I was tried on Wednesday and released somewhere around lunchtime, it turns out. And this has greatly slowed down the process [of restoring the point]. Even though my wife and employee were helping a lot with all sorts of small and large matters at that time, everything is being greatly delayed,” Klimionak said, without specifying the reason for the arrest.

Earlier, the owner of Reanimator had already described the consequences of the fire for his business. According to Klimionak, 90% of the equipment survived, but “it was sooty, it smelled like burnt plastic.” Now he is planning to open a workshop in another location — in the Mega shopping center.

Klimionak also shared advice on what “definitely not to wear when entering the temporary detention facility.” He was arrested in winter boots, trousers, and a coat.

“I was going to work, but ended up in jail. Warm boots, winter ones without laces — those were awesome, no need to unlace, warm. Winter pants — well, so-so. I would prefer “thermal” underwear, fleece and stuff like this,” noted Klimionak. “Coat... It is extremely uncomfortable to sleep if you sleep not on a cold bunk without a mattress, but on the floor”.

Notably, in the evening of December 20 it also became known that one victim of the fire in the Vitsebsk shopping center “Belarus” was transported to Minsk for treatment. The woman is in serious condition, she is connected to a lung ventilator.

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