Oppositionist Sentenced to 10 Days of Arrest for National Flag :: Charter'97 :: News

On August 8 the court of Byaroza district of Brest region sentenced the chairman of Brest regional branch of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Yury Hubarevich to 10 days of administrative arrest for using unregistered symbols, the BelaPAN was informed by Raman Kislyak, a human rights activist who attended the trial. As said by him, the incident that caused drawing up the administrative report, took place during a walking tour of democratic youth “Crusade of good will-2006” (August 3-6). A white-red-white flag was put up between tents. Young people were sailing a boat with the same flag.

“It was noticed by people around, who were having rest: a worker of Byaroza district executive committee, a policeman and an employee of local TV who had a video camera,” R. Kislyak said. “Like participants of the journey on foot, they were witnesses in the court. There haven’t been any evidence that Hubarevich put up or held the flag. I think that Yury claimed responsibility in order to prevent problems for other participants of the tour”.

On grounds of the report, video footage and witness testimony the court found Yury Hubarevich guilty of vilation of the article 167 Part 2 of the Administrative Code. He is to serve the sentence in the remand prison by Byaroza police department.

Three administrative reports have been drawn up against participants of the journey “Crusade of good will-2006” (for parking a car closer than 50 meters from water range and making a camp in a state nature reserve).