Fine for poster “Sannikov is our president”

Pavel Sasnouski from Minsk was fined 200,000 Belarusian rubles for alleged hooliganism.

The trial was held in his absence. The young man received a letter saying he must pay a 200,000 rubles fine.

As Pavel Sasnouski already told charter97.org website, police officers drew up a report against him for committing an offence he never did. The activist has a draft deferment, but he received threats that he can be called up.

Policemen visited the young man at home in early April and handed in a summons to appear in the military enlistment office. They saw national white-red-white symbols, stickers “Sannikov is our president” and a banner “Freedom to Bandarenka” in his flat.  The said nothing and left his home.

The young man visited the military enlistment office, where he was told he should be called up in spite of his draft deferment.

Pavel Sasnouski found a police report in his mailbox some days ago accusing him of violating article 17.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences: he is accused of swearing and ignoring attempts to calm him down. The man says he did not receive a summons to appear before the court.