Tatsiana Seviarynets to be tried for a photo

Participants of a photo session against the background of graffiti in Vitebsk are accused of organising an unsanctioned picket.

On November 5, activists and journalists, including coordinators of the organising committee to create the Belarusian Christian party (BCD) Tatsiana Seviarynets and Alena Shabunia, took a photo of themselves against the background of graffiti depicting a bird made of a newspaper breaking free from a cage, charter97.org learnt from the BCD press service.

All people in the photo were summoned to the Chyhunachny district police station by major Rynakou, the head of the public order department, who received printouts from the internet from the ideological department of the regional executive committee. Regional officials called the photo session an “unsanctioned picket” and ordered the police officer to take measures against the “offenders”.

The activists were charged with violating part 1 of article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences. They will be tried on November 28 and December 1. Alena Shabunia and Tatsiana Seviarynets refused to give evidence on November 19.