US Embassy condemns harsh sentences to demonstrators

Beating up and arrests of people cannot be justified, US Embassy representative, Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan Moore told to Radio Svaboda in the court of Maskouski district of Minsk.

US Embassy condemns verdicts in these cases. There are no reasons to prohibit people express their position peacefully, said Jonathan Moore. Together with his colleagues he observed the protest on October Square January 10. It is evident to him protesters expressed their point of view. No justification could be found to beating up and arrests of people. It was even stranger as the detainees were the same people who submitted petition of protest to Myadzvedzeva. And in response they were condemned without lawyers and in absence of people in the courtroom, Jonathan Moore said.