BCD Activists Fined For Picket In Front Of Russian Embassy

The picket was held to commemorate the 502nd anniversary of the Battle of Orsha.

By a decision of the Tsentralny district court of Minsk, opposition activists Pavel Prakapovich and Siarhei Strybulski were fined.

Belarusian Justice found sedition in their actions during the picketing in front of the Russian Embassy on September 8, dedicated to the 502nd anniversary of the Battle of Orsha.

As the press service of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) Party informs, they were charged with holding an unauthorized picket. The BCD coordinator in Minsk region Prakapovich was fined 1,050 Belarusian rubles (50 basic units), Strybulski fined 210 Belarusian rubles (10 basic units), BelaPAN writes.

The action, initiated by the registered in the Czech Republic association Young Front, was nearly scuttled by the security forces. One of the leaders of Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich was detained outside his home in Minsk shortly before the picket. He was kept in the Tsentralny district police department till evening.

About five dozens of law enforcement officers in civilian clothes were monitoring the territory near the Russian embassy that evening. They were detaining the activists who were approaching the alleged

place of picket. As a result, only Prakapovich and Strybulski managed to reach the place of picket. When Prakapovich left the place of the event by tram, at least three security officials in civilian clothes accompanied him.