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Authorities Feared Picket Of Solidarity In Hrodna

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Authorities Feared Picket Of Solidarity In Hrodna
PHOTO: ERB

Yesterday Hrodna activists were tried for the rally in the memory of abducted politicians of September 19.

The trial of Anatol Myshkevich (a Hramada member), Siarhei Verameyenka (a member of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party) and Vital Moysa was held in the court of Leninski district of Hrodna on October 20. Verameyenka didn’t appear at the trial, having grounded that by his principled position, Belsat reports.

The trial was headed by judge Natallia Kozel, who had repeatedly judged Hrodna democratic activists for such rallies. The police officers, who had detained and activists during the rally, were the witnesses. According to activists, the judge and witnesses behaved decently.

After the trial, Anatol Myshkevich said: “We were judged for an unauthorized picket, under Part 1 of Article 24.34 of the Administrative Code of Belarus. I and Vital Moysa was fined 20 basic units (420 redenominated rubles), and Siarhei Verameyenka – mostly for not coming, - 25 basic units (525 redenominated rubles).”

Activists noted that they would not appeal the verdict, however, human rights activist Raman Yurhel is convinced: ”It should be appealed! The sentences are very harsh and unfair, one of the activists is unemployed, another one has two teenage children.”

PHOTO: ERB

The human rights activist noted that the Belarusian judicial system does not adhere to the recommendations of the International Covenant on Social and Political Rights, and in this case, violates the right to freedom of expression (Article 19 of the International Covenant) and the right to peaceful assembly (article 21 of the International Covenant).

The picket, in the course of which three activists were standing with portraits of disappeared politicians, began in Hrodna on Savetskaya Street on 19 September at 17:00. The protesters were holding portraits of abducted Dzmitry Zavadski, Anatol Krasouskiy, Viktar Hanchar and Yury Zakharanka. There was also a portrait of opposition politician Henadz Karpenka, who died suddenly in 1999. On the top it was written: “We Remember.”

The activists managed to stand with portraits of the missing politicians for only about 5 minutes. A stripped of insignia grey bus approached the protesters, and all the participants were invited there.

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