“European Belarus” coordinator goes on waterless hunger strike in prison

The oppositionist protests against unfair verdict.

As Viasna human rights centre has learnt, since January 26 a coordinator of “European Belarus” Maxim Vinyarski started a waterless hunger strike protesting against the verdict, delivered by the court of Tsentralny district on Minsk on January 23. Judge Viktoryja Shabunya punished the activist by 15 days’ arrest for participation in commemoration of the Heavenly Hundred heroes near the monument of Taras Shevchenko.

We remind that on January 22 in the evening about 15 persons lit candles and laid flowers near the monument of Taras Shevchenko, not far from the Embassy of Ukraine. A big portrait of the Belarusian national killed in Ukraine, Mikhail Zhiznevsky, was unfurled. All participants were detained by riot policemen right after the rally and taken to the police department of Tsentralny district. Brutal force was used by the law-enforcers against some participants of the rally. On the next day 5 activists were sentenced to arrests, and Nina Bahinskaya to a fine.

Maxim Vinyarski was detained by policemen on numerous occasions before and during officially authorized rallies of democratic community, and served arrests. In April 2014 he was on a waterless hunger strike for a long time as well.