Belarusian Authorities Feared Solidarity With Savchenko

Activist Alex Klimenka was fined $ 647 for a picket in support of Nadezhda Savchenko.

On May 19, a hearing of the administrative case against activist Alex Klimenka was held at the Tsentralny district court of Minsk. Viktoryja Shabunia was the judge, the HRC Viasna reports.

The court accused Alex Klimenka under Part 3 of the Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code “Violation of the order of organizing or holding mass events, if repeated within one year after the imposition of an administrative penalty for the same violation,” and under the Article 23.4 of the Administrative Code “Disobeying legal demands” for a picket in front of the Russian embassy in support of the Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko, which took place on April 18, 2016.

The activist did not appear in the court.

Regarding the first protocol, police witnesses Andaliukevich, Yasinski and Bahanik reported seeing Alex Klimenka with a banner outside the embassy. Policemen in the uniform came up to him, warned about the inadmissibility of the violation, but he did not react. The judge showed all the witnesses Alex Klimenka’s photos with a banner.

Regarding the second protocol, riot policemen Matlah Siarhei and Maxim Yoda gave witness how they had seen Alex Klimenka moving along the roadway and not paying attention to the request to return back to the pavement, preventing the movement of vehicles.

As the result, the court decided to draw activists to administrative responsibility in the form of a fine totaling to 60 basic units – Br 12.6 million ($ 647): under the Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code – 50 basic units, under the Article 23.4 of the Administrative Code – 10 basic units.