Hrodna activists fined for 5-minute picket in memory of disappeared Belarusian politicians

On October 20, a district court in Hrodna imposed heavy fines on three ativists who held a rally in remembrance of disappeared opposition politicians a month ago.

The missing were allegedly abducted and killed at the order of the coutry’s top officials, their families, opposition activists and independent journalists believe.

The case was considered by judge Natallya Kozel who repeatedly sentenced Hrodna democratic activists for such actions. Police officers who detained the picketers – Anatol Myshkevich, Syarhei Verameyenka and Vital Moysa – were giving evidence as witnesses.

After the hearing, Anatol Myshkevich said: “We were tried for organizing an unauthorized picket (Article 24.34-1 of the Administrative Code of Belarus.)”

Myshkevich and Moysa were BYN 420 fined; Verameyenka, who failed to appear before the judge, will have to pay BYN 525 off.

According to human rights activist Roman Yurhel, the Belarusian judicial system that not often filfils the recommendations of the International Covenant on Social and Political Rights has violated the right to freedom of expression (Article 19) and the right to peaceful assembly (Article 21).

On September 19, the three activists came to Savetskaya street in downtown Hrodna. They were holding a big placard with portraits of cameraman Dzmitry Zavadski, businessman Anatol Krasouski, politicians Viktar Hanchar and Yury Zakharanka who have been missing since in 1999-2000. There was also a portrait of Lukashenka’s opponent Henadz Karpenka who unexpectedly died in 1999.

The action ‘We Remember’ lasted only 5 minutes: the police ‘invited’ the protesters to a grey minivan and drove away.

belsat.eu