On December 3, Vyachaslau Kasinerau and Syarhei Sparysh stood trial in Maskouski district of Minsk. They were found guilty of disorderly conduct.
Each will have to pay 735 Belarusian rubles (about $370) to the state budget.
On December 2, a group of activists laid a funeral wreath with the inscription ‘The Interior Ministry’s Public Image’ at Gorodovoi, i.e. the statue of Tsarist-era policeman. Grabbed by the police, they spent a night in the detention centre.
In March 2017, a group of activists including Vyachaslau Kasinerau, held a performance by putting a noose around the neck of Gorodovoi. They protested against police abuse and harassment of anarchist activists for participating in peaceful protests. Kasinerau was charged with committing a crime under part 1 of article 339 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism) and fined.
The Gorodovoi that is rumoured to be liked by Belarusian Interior Minister Ihar Shunevich has apparently gained notoriety. In mid November, the Minsk police made a young man apologize for slapping the statue and posted a corresponding video on their official Youtube channel. Later, Minsk resident Dzmitry Zavadzki was taken to the police station only for putting a scarf on the statue – he just wanted to take a picture of the ‘dressed’ Gorodovoi.
However, the public outrage at forcing the teenager to apologize to the sculpture, as well as the police, was the last straw of patience of Minister Shunevich. A week ago, Heorhi Yauchar, Head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, lost his position. According to some sources, Yauchar was removed from his post for unsatisfactory performance.
It should be noted the Belarusian Interior Minister is an ardent admirer of the Bolshevik secret services that murdered and executed tsarist officers without remorse.
ДР belsat.eu
