Activist of anti-Lukashenka online community sentenced to five days in jail

Dzmitry Shawchenka, activist of an online community called Revolution Through Social Networks resident in Homyel, was sentenced to five days in jail on Friday.

The young man was arrested by police at a bus stop in the city earlier in the day and immediately brought to a district court, his associate, Dzmitry Karashkow, told BelaPAN.

He was jailed on a civil offense charge of organizing an unsanctioned mass event, which is likely to have been brought against them in connection with the community’s plans to stage a small protest in the city on New Year’s Eve, said Mr. Karashkow.