Smaliavichy resident gets 5 days in custody for distributing newspapers

The case of activist Andrei Kasheuski was heard by Minsk's Kastrychnitski district court.

Officers of the traffic police charged him with two offences. The distribution of newspapers was interpreted as an unsanctioned mass event (article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). They also charged him with disorderly conduct (article 17.1). The case was heard by judge Aliaksandr Siarhei. He found Andrei Kasheuski guilty and sentenced him to 5 days in custody, Viasna human rights centre reports.

The activist spent the night before the trial at a police station.

The police detained Andrei Kasheuski from Smaliavichy, the activist of the organising committee to create the Belarusian Christian Democracy party (BCD), on the evening of August 26 in Minsk. He was distributing independent newspapers to earn his living.