Activist fined $500 for Dziady action in Homiel

Vasil Palakou was found guilty of “violating the procedure of holding a mass event”.

On 13 November a judge Siarhej Novikau ruled to hold the deputy chairman of the United Civic Party Vasil Palakou administratively responsible, the human rights center Viasna reports.

The politician was found guilty of violating the article 23.34 of the Code on Administrative Violations (violation of the procedure of holding a mass event) and punished with a fine in the amount of 4.55 million roubles – 35 basic units.

We would remind that on 3 November oppositionists held an action to commemorate the victims of Stalin repressions not far from Homiel. They cleaned the place where the innocent victims of the Bolshevik terror were shot, laid wreaths, lit candles. Police observed the actions just like the previous years. But it is the first time that a person is held administratively responsible for cleaning around crosses in Homiel.

Police, precisely the head of the public order department Hienadz Khilkievich, showed a videotape of the action in court. He also spoke as the witness of the violation. Other action’s participants have not yet been held responsible.