Activist Pavel Vinahradau was sentenced to 12-day arrest for hanging the portrait of ex-presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich and a white-red-white flag over the entrance to underground station Niamiga in Minsk. The 24-year-old leader of Zmena (Change), the youth wing of Tell the Truth civil campaign, was found guilty of acting in violation of regulations governing demonstrations.
According to judge Viktoriya Shabunya, by displaying the image the young man staged an unsanctioned demonstration. Sviatlana Vinahradava, Pavel’s wife, said that he had been detained not far from his house at about 17:30 on April 21. The arrest was performed by police officers who guard subway stations.
In May 2011, Mr Vinahradau was sentenced to four years of imprisonment for participating in the post-election protests in Minsk on December 19, 2010. He was pardoned by Aliaksandr Lukashenka on September 14, 2011 although Mr Vinahradau had never filed a petition to the President.
On April 10, 2012, the activist was placed under police supervision. He is prohibited from leaving Minsk without police permission and required to stay at home from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. and report to probation officers on a regular basis. Last year Mr Vinahradau stood trial at least 10 times for various minor civil offenses and spent a total of 66 days in jail.
Belsat, following BelaPAN
