10 days in custody for demand stated on Charter website

The Tsentralny district court of Homel heard the case against pubic activist Vital Pratasevich on October 24.

He organized a one-man action of solidarity with political prisoners on October 21.

The trial was conducted by judge Maryna Domnenka. She ordered activist Vasil Takarenka out of the courtroom when he asked to read out materials of the case a bit louder.

In accordance with the police report, Pratasevich was expressing in public a political demand stated on Charter97 website, which was found a violation of article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences.

The activist did not admit his guilt and said he had not had any posters expect for a printed portrait of political prisoner Andrei Sannikov without a text. Pratesevich was standing alone in silence, he did not shout any slogans. He does not think his actions may be interpreted as holding an unauthorized picket.

The judge found the activist guilty and gave him 10 days in custody.

Pratesevich noted after the trial that he wanted to support the illegally imprisoned people.