Ex-presidential candidate sentenced to 5 days in jail for protesting against Zapad-2017 drills
A Minsk court sentenced Mikalai Statkevich, a former political prisoner and 2010 presidential candidate, to 5 days in jail for protesting against holding Zapad-2017 drills in Belarus.
Statkevich was detained by the police when he was leaving the office of the Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry (REP) on September, 22.
The politician was not taken to court today.
Mikalai Statkevich is one of the leaders of the Belarusian National Congress, an organization striving for uniting the Belarusian opposition.
On August 9, Mikalai Statkevich was sentenced to 15 days in prison for participating in the rally on July 3, but he was not taken by the police to serve the term. However, on August 25 he was arrested and put into prison for 5 days.
On September 8, Statkevich led the protest against the Belarusian-Russian military exercise ‘Zapad-2017’ in Minsk.
No one was detained during the rally, but later poet and politician Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu spent 7 days in prison for participating. Mahiliou-based activist Stanislau Pavlinkovich was BYN 460 fined.
On September 28, activist Vyachaslau Siuchyk will appear before court for taking part in the protests; protocols were drawn upon activists Yauhen Afnagel, Ales Makayeu, Pavel Sevyarynets, Nina Bahinskaya.
