Belarusians to be tried for solidarity with Ukraine

Some activists, who were detained near the embassy of Russia in Minsk, will be tried on Monday.

As BelaPAN learnt from former political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich, who was taken to the Tsentralny district police department, police officers charged three or four detainees, including himself, of administrative offences. The activists are to stand trial on March 3.

Those who were not charged are expected to be set free. However, all detained activists remain in the police department.

A picket against Russia's action in Ukraine was planned near the Russian embassy at 14:00 on Sunday. The activists wanted to hand in an appeal against the Russian occupation of Crimea, but the picket didn't take place.

Eyewitnesses say police vans were noticed near the embassy building and the security measures were strengthened. The police began to detain the activists and journalists on their way to the embassy. About 30 people, including passersby and Russian embassy staff member Aleksandr Pchelintsev were detained.

The detained journalists were set free at around 15:00 after identification procedures.

The detained activists are Zmitser Dashkevich, Raman Pratasevich, Maria Trafimava, Mariana Tsitova, Natallia Rak, Yauhenia Bahinskaya, Yana Kazakova, Stanislau Pachnel, Zmitser Pradko and Viktar Dudko.