Raviaka and Labkovich file appeals to Minsk city court

The human rights activists want to appeal against the decision of Minsk's Savetski district court that issued them a fine of 3 million rubles.

Activists of the Viasna human rights centre were handing out postcards depicting Viasna's jailed head Ales Bialiatski on August 5. Security guards of Minsk Central Department Store called the police. Tatsiana Raviaka and Uladzimir Labkovich were detained and taken to the Savetski district court. They were later set free, because police reports contained errors, the website of Viasna human rights centre informs.

The trial was resumed next day. The human rights activists were found guilty of violating article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences and fined 3 million rubles each.

Tatsiana Raviaka and Uladzimir Labkovich didn't admit their guilt. They said the law on mass events conflicts with articles 33, 34 and 35 of the Constitution and restricts the rights provided for by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (article 19).

The same arguments were presented in their appeals to the Minsk city court asking to cancel the decision of the Savetski district court and close the administrative case.