Hundreds of protesters, who have not stopped going out since Saturday, are being punished with fines and jail terms. Will the people get intimidated?
In Brest, judge Svyataslau Kalina punished four Brest residents with jail terms. They were detained on Sunday. Halina Yahorova was punished with three days of arrest for trying to protect her son from detention.
The judge punished pensioner Alena Hnauk with a fine of 1,080 rubles. She was detained for the second time after Alena spent 18 days in jail. According to the woman, she was declared a suspect in a criminal case about “actions that grossly violate public order.”
“I pleaded not guilty. At the trial, I declared that I consider the illegitimate President Lukashenka to be guilty. He brought the people to the point that they were forced to take to the streets. Just like the Brest administration, which did not give permission for citizens to express their will!” Alena says firmly.
More than sixty people were detained during the Sunday march of solidarity in Brest. A criminal case was opened for the events of September 13, when the Brest residents were leading a round dance on the road. To disperse them, the authorities used a water cannon.
In Vitsebsk, the judge Uladzimir Tsarykau convicted pensioner Raisa Kukhto for taking part in five protest marches. The former teacher must pay a fine of 648 rubles.
The Vitsebsk journalist Dzmitry Kazakevich, who was detained on Sunday, was released only today, while the judge sent the case against him for revision.
Professor Ales Krautsevich was also released in Hrodna after 72 hours behind bars. He was fined 10 basic units or 270 rubles.
More than 300 people were detained during the solidarity marches across the country on Sunday. According to human rights activists, about a hundred people were punished for this action with arrests and fines in Minsk alone.
Alyaksandr Papko, Belsat
