EPAM Systems senior director detained in Minsk

Igor Ovsyanik, Senior Director Special Projects at EPAM Systems was detained during protests in Minsk on Sunday and is now being held at the Akrestsina pre-trial detention center, reports the IT-industry news portal dev.by quoting the wife of the company's top manager.

"He was detained yesterday but it is not clear in what circumstances. He was taken to Minsk's Persamajski District Police Station and then in the night to the pre-trial detention center on Akrestsina Street. He is not yet mentioned on the lists of people to be tried in court," Ovsyanik's wife said.

Ovsyanik has worked at EPAM for more than 20 years. He headed the company's office in Belarus before working as a top manager in EPAM's offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria. Currently, he oversees projects in India, the Netherlands, Mexico, China and Vietnam focusing on the integration of new units into the company.

Over 370 people were detained during the March Against Fascism on November 22 in Minsk. Security forces deployed stun grenades and noise weapons during detentions. More than 10 people were rushed from police stations to the emergency care hospitals. 

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