Fines for participation in peaceful rally of solidarity with political prisoners

On June 8, 7 activists of the United Civil party were condemned in Hrodna for holding a rally of solidarity with Vaukavysk businessmen.

The head of Hrodna branch of the united civil party Yury Istomin was fined 20 minimal basic units, while other participants of the peaceful rally were fined 2 basic units. Oppositionists were fined for holding solidarity rally with Vaukavysk entrepreneurs Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka, which was held on May 16 in Vaukavysk, Radio Racyja informs.

On May 16 activists of the UCP rallied in streets of Vaukavysk with portraits of political prisoners. In half an hour after the peaceful rally started, oppositionists were detained by police.

As Yury Istomin said, they were kept in Vaukavysk police department for more than three hours, and where released only after reports were drawn up. Participants of the rally of solidarity were charged with violation of regulations for holding mass events.

As said by Istomin, for such a small town as Vaukavysk, their detention was a noticeable event.

“Mikalai Autukhovich is well-known here, he was actively engaged in charity activities; he helped an orphanage, local sports teams among others. People said that they remember him, expressed solidarity with the detained. I think that was the reason for such a negative response of the local authorities to our protest,” Yury Istomin said in an interview to BelaPAN.