Russian citizen given jail term for Chernobyl Way rally

Russian citizen Vladimir Novikov was given 15 days in custody for participating in the Chernobyl Way rally on April 26.

The decision was taken by Minsk's Savetski district court on April 28, Viasna human rights centre reports.

Novikov was found guilty of alleged disobeying police officers and disorderly conduct. Like other participants of the Chernobyl Way rally, the Russian citizen was detained after the rally.

A traditional rally to mark the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster began in Minsk near the Oktyabr cinema. About 1,000 people marched to the Friendship of Nations Park on Bangalore Square. Demonstrators demanded that the construction of the nuclear power plant in Astravets should be stopped. Activists were detained after the rally had ended.