Kastrychnitski district court of Minsk has heard the case against the volunteers of “Street Medicine” Karyna Radchanka and Tatsiana Labaza. The volunteers were accused of unsanctioned action, writes the human rights center Viasna.
Karyna Radchanka and Tatsiana Labaza were detained in Mikhailauski park in Minsk on January 23. Together with activists of the initiative “Food not bombs,” the volonteers were distributing free food and medical care to people in need. The police detained not only the volunteers, but also people who came to support the initiative.
At the trial, a police witness said that he detained the volunteers for “participating in the rally because they were feeding the homeless by being with the pots.” The policeman said he did not see any symbols and did not see that the volunteers were providing medical assistance, nor did he hear any slogans.
But the judge of Kastrychnitski District Court of Minsk Alena Zhyvitsa sentenced Karyna Radchanka to 15 days of administrative arrest. The judge sent the case of Tatsiana Labaza for revision.
After the finalization of the Protocol Tatsiana Labaza was sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest.
Four activists of the initiative “Food not bombs” were sentenced to 15 days of arrest. The cases of two more were sent back for revision, but they will remain behind bars until the trial. According to the protocol, the volunteers “participated in a picket, shouted “Long Live Belarus” while handing out “unidentified food”.
