Trial over participants of Chernobyl Way rally

Minsk's Savetski district court sentenced participants of the Chernbyl Way rally and journalists to administrative detention.

About ten people were detained at the rally on April 26. Some of them were released. Some, including journalists Henadz Barbarych, Aliaksandr Yarashevich and European Belarus civil campaign activists Aliaksandr Tarnahurski, Zmitser Charniak, human rights activist Viachaslau Dashkevich, anarchist activist Ihar Trukhanovich who had been beaten brutally, were taken to a detention centre in Akrestin Street.

Ecological activists Iryna Sukhiy, Vasily Siniukhin, Kanstantin Kirylenka, Volha Kaskevich and Mikalai Ulasevich were detained before the rally. All the set free when the demonstration was over. Ecological activists Tatsiana Novikava and Aleh Novikau were blocked in their flats during the rally.

Nasha Niva's journalists Iryna Arakhouskaya and Aksana Rudovich, who filmed beating of Trukhanovich, were detained. Both were taken to the Savetski district police department and later released.

Journalists and activists of the civil campaign European Belarus are accused of disobeying orders of policemen. Ihar Trukhanovich is accused of carrying out an illegal picket.

Journalists and human rights defenders were ordered to leave the courtroom.

Judge Dzmitry Pauliuchenka sentenced Viachaslau Dashkevich to five days in custody.

Judge Kiryl Palulekh sentenced Aliaksandr Yarashevich to three days in custody. The journalist is expected to be released this evening, as the 3-day term expires today.

Judge Aksana Reliava sentenced anarchist activist Ihar Trukhanovich, who had been beaten by policemen, to 10 days in custody.

Journalist Henadz Barbarych received three days and European Belarus activists Aliaksandr Tarnahurski and Zmitsser Charniak got 10 days in custody. They were tried by judges Palulekh, Reliava and Pauliuchenka.

The Chernobyl Way rally was held in Minsk on April 26. The rally was permitted by the city authorities.