Today I was arrested (and then released…)

at 7.30 after check-in, I went through the passport control and the policeman told me that there was an arrest warrant about me. He did not know what the reason was and I was taken to a detention room. Later there I learnt the reason. It was about a trial of evading military service. As you know I did serve and came back in mid September 2009. However, there was a trial that had started before that. I had postponed the service several times as I was writing my thesis. In every postponement, there was a formal trial. Officials in the military service office had told me that these charges would drop as I had served. But it seems that the last trial did not stop there and hit me today.

I was taken to a cell with a group of other arrested passengers. A drug dealer, two Iranian dealers and pimps, two or three guys charged with financial fraud and a young guy charged with stabbing someone. We were taken to hospital twice before and after our police station stay and I was handcuffed during these hospital visits.

In late afternoon, 16.30, we could finally make it to the Court. After a few minutes of trial, the judge ordered me to bring necessary documents – that I have served and that I finished my dissertation: Tomorrow at 10:00, I have another trial. The judge told me he will probabably close the case. After the trial, my traveling abroad ban- yes I learnt that right now I am not allowed to leave the country- will end… In the mean time I miss the EUPRERA conference… I am a bit depressed now but I will be ok.