Trials over Charnobylski Shlyakh organizers postponed again :: Charter'97 :: News

Trials over two applicants for holding the protest rally “Charnobylski Shlyakh”, a member of the Belarusian Popular Front party Yury Zyankovich and an activist of the United Civil Party Valyantsina Palevikova, have started today in the court of Savetski district of Minsk. After studying the materials of the case and questioning of witnesses, the verdict to Yury Zyankevich is decided to be delivered tomorrow. The trail over Valyantsina Palevikova is postponed for Monday. The Charter’97 press-center has been informed about that by a human rights activist Uladzimer Labkovich.

The politicians have been charged in violation of the Article 23.24 of the Administrative Code (Violation of public order during mass events). As we have informed, “Charnobylski Shlyakh” was held in Minsk on April 26. The demonstration has had 10,000 participants.

The reports against Palevikova and Zyankovich were drawn based on evidence of traffic policemen who stated that the column of Charnobylski Shlyakh demonstrators stepped on traffic area of Surhanau Street on its way from Yakub Kolas Street, and interfered with the traffic.

The trial in the case of the United Civil party activist Valyantsina Palevikova was rescheduled for Monday, May 21. As said by a human rights activist Uladzimer Labkovich, “it is clearly seen on the screen that people could not keep from stepping on the traffic area, as the cross-roads of Surhanau and Yakub Kolas Streets was blocked off by traffic police cars and a big truck with a megaphone”.

Besides, on sidewalks of Surhanau Street where demonstrators had to walk on traffic area, construction works were held, and it was unsafe and dangerous for life and health of the demonstrators to go there.

The trial over the BPF activist Yury Zyankovich has been rescheduled for tomorrow. The BPF leaders Vintsuk Vyachorka and Viktar Ivashkevich have been questioned in the court as witnesses today.