10 days in jail for picketing against Russian military base

The Tsentralny District Court of Minsk sentenced yesterday Mikalai Hladyshau, Mahiliou activist of the United Civil Party, to 10 days of arrest for staging a protest against the deployment of Russian military bases in Belarus.

"This is not Mahiliou. Here, the trial lasted for fifteenth minutes. Judge Shabunia spared no time on ceremonies, she issued a sentence for violating the order of organizing and holding mass events," Mikalai Hladyshau told to a BelaPAN reporter after the trial.

The opposition activist did not admit his guilt, but does not intend to appeal the court. According to Mr. Hladyshau, he does not regret the protest.

A picket against the deployment of Russian military bases in Belarus was staged by Mikalai Hladyshau yesterday outside the Russian Embassy in Minsk. He unfolded the banner, "No to Foreign Military Bases! Russian Soldiers, Go Away!" 15 minutes later he was detained by the police.

On July 4, the activist staged a similar picket in Mahiliou, for which he was fined one million rubles.