Maksim Viniarski gets 15 days in custody for solidarity with Euromaidan rally

An activist of the civil campaign European Belarus declared a hunger strike in the courtroom.

Maksim Viniarski was detained yesterday evening on Minsk's Independence Square. Activist Natallia Harachka and he were lighting candles near the Red Church to mark the events on December 19, 2010. The activists were taken to the Maskouski district police department. Natallia Harachka was set free later. Maksim Viniarski was taken to the Tsentralny district police department and charged with organising an unsanctioned picket of the Ukrainian Embassy on November 30.

Judge Viktoria Shabunia found Maksim Viniarski guilty of violating article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences and sentenced him to 15 days in custody. As charter97.org learnt from European Belarus activist Yulia Stsiapanava, he asked to postpone the sentence by a month because his mother was ill, but his request was declined.

Maksim Viniarski declared a hunger strike in protest.

On November 30, activists of the civil campaign European Belarus, the movements Razam and Alternative gathered near the Ukrainian Embassy to support the pro-EU aspirations of the people of Ukraine. They lit candles as a sign of solidarity and raised Belarusian national, Ukrainian and EU flags.