Judicial outrage amid hockey championship: neutralization of political undesirables
A hunting season on the dissidents seems to be in progress: more opposition activists have been thrown into prison cells under false allegations. Plain-clothed policemen grabbed them, knocked to the ground, pulled bags over their heads and kept them for about an hour in such a state.
Mikhas Muski and Mikola Dzemidzenka, activists of youth opposition organization Young Front, were sentenced to 20 days in jail.
Mikhas Muski, phot. facebook.com/alaksandra.dynko
While Mr Dzemidzenka’s case was being heard in court, a Belsat TV reporter was threatened with initiating an administrative case for alleged petty crime. Police officers Kruk and Zianko stated that Mr Dzemidzenka had relieved himself in the street dissembling their warnings.
Mikola Dzemidzenka, phot. facebook.com/alaksandra.dynko
Judge Anatol Sotnikau found Andrey Tsianyuta, an activist from Homel, guilty of using obscenities and resisting police officers. Mr Tsianyuta will have to spend 10 days in custody.
Activist Zmitser Kramianetsky who is charged with petty crime is to appear in court in the afternoon.
Jail sentences are imposed on opposition activists shortly before the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk which is to start on May, 9. Maksim Viniarski, a member of European Belarus civil campaign, was released on May, 4 after spending 12 days in jail and going on a hunger strike. Mr Viniarski does not rule out the possibility of his being re-arrested. Former political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich, accused of resisting police officers or violation of preventive surveillance regulations, was sentenced to 25 days behind bars.
