Protesting Sole Traders Fined In Zhodzina

Five activists were fined 30 million for the rally of solidarity with sole traders.

On May 23, the Zhodzina court considered administrative cases against activists detained the rally of solidarity with sole traders on Saturday, Radio Svaboda informs.

Protocols on participation in an unauthorized event (Art.23.34 of the Administrative Code) were drawn up against six protesters. Community activist and sole trader Ales Makayeu, BCD activist Paul Prakapovich, activist of the Young Front Pavel Staravoitau and Homel businessman Mikhail Latyshau were taken in charge before the trial and spent the weekend in a temporary detention facility. Another participant of the meeting, sole trader Ales Abramovich, was released home pending the trial for health reasons. Ivan Pomaz will also be judged today.

Makayeu was fined 50 basic units – Br 10.5 million ($ 530), Abramovich – 40 – Br 8.4 million ($ 426), Prakapovich – 25 – Br 5.25 million ($ 267), Latyshau and Staravoitau – 15 – Br 3, 15 million ($ 160).

A large group of activists from Minsk came to support activists in Zhodzina, including co-chairman of the organizing committee for the registration of the party Belarusian Christian Democracy Pavel Siaviarynets, sole trader Mikalai Autukhovich, politician Viachaslau Siuchyk and more than 10 activists.

It is to be reminded that on May 21, on the market in Zhodzina, the organizing committee of the trade union "Salіdarnasts" organized a rally of solidarity with the sole traders who were protesting against Lukashenka's Decree №222. According to the witnesses, the rally lasted for about 40 minutes. After the rally, which was filmed by police officers, the activists started to hand out propaganda materials to the people on the market. At that point, the activists were detained.