On Thursday. Yauhen Afnahel and Maksim Vinyarski, coordinators of the European Belarus civil campaign, have been sentenced to 15-day jail term over taking part in recent protests against integration with Russia.
A day earlier, the both activists were arrested and taken to a predetention centre, as well as Dzyanis Urbanovich, the leader of the Young Front. The latter has not been tried yet.
On December 18, Pavel Sevyarynets, a co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party was detained by the riot police. The politician, who organized protests against the integration with Russia on December 7 and 8, was taken to court. Sevyarynets was sentenced to 15 days of arrest for unauthorized actions (part 3 of Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Infringements), but for some reason he was released by the police. Also, law enforcers warned Sevyarynets not to hold an action on December 20. On this day in Russia, Alyaksandr Lukashenka is expected to meet with Vladimir Putin and continue negotiations on integration.
The opposition intends to hold a rally in Kastrychnitskaya Square, march along Nyamiha and Zybitskaya, as well as to organize a chain of people who care along Independence Avenue. The organizers say they have a special plan, which they will implement in case of obstacles set up by the authorities. However, they are kept secret so that a peaceful protest could take place.
In Minsk and in the regions policeare detaining activists and warning them against violating the law on mass events, i.e. staging unauthorized events.
