Political trials held behind closed doors (Photo)

17 participants of the protest rally “No to Russian occupation!" have been condemned today. The protesters have spent the night in the remand prison in Akrestsin Street.

Many oppositionists taken to the court of Tsentralny district in police buses, had been beaten up. As the website www.charter97.org was told by an activist of the “European Belarus” civil campaign Paval Yukhnevich, when protesters were taken to the court, everybody saw that the nose of the “European Belarus” activist Zmitser Barodka was broken. The leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich was beaten up. Blood stains were visible on the clothes of several activists.

Dozens were arrested, among them coordinator of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Zmitser Bandarenka, head of the Minsk BPF branch Viktar Ivashkevich, “Young Front” leader Zmitser Dashkevich, “European Belarus” activists Alyaksandr Atroshchankau and Zmitser Barodka, young activists Anton Kopijsh, Syarhei Karpovich, Radzion Pirazhkou, Alina Radachynskaya, Alesya Yakubouskaya, Mikita Krasnou, Maxim Serhiets, Alyaksei Syanchyla and other opposition activists.

The participants of the rally were charged with violation of the Article 23-34 of the Administrative code – “Violation of the rules of holding mass events”.

Zmitser Bandarenka was sentenced to a fine, 15 basic units (525 thousand rubles, or $185). Riot policemen Pichyhin and Staradubets were witnesses in the court. The verdict was passed by judge Hanchar S.V.

Viktar Ivashkevich was fined 10 basic units (350,000 Br, or $124). Zmitser Dashkevich was fined 25 basic units (875,000 Br, or $311). The verdicts were passed by judge O.A. Karnyushka.

“European Belarus” activist Zmitser Barodka was fined 25 basic units (875,000 Br, or $311) by judge L.S. Yasenovich. Alyaksandr Atroshchankau was signed 15 basic units (525,000 Br, or $185), judge S.V. Hanchar.

Young activists Uladzimir Varanetski, Syarhei Karpovich, Kanstantsin Ivanou, Mikalai Spyasiutsau, Anton Kojpish were fined 10 basic units (350,000 Br, or $124). Iryna Pyatrova-Pcholkina, Alesya Yakubouskaya, Andrei Krachko were fined 5 basic units (175,000 Br, or $62), Alina Radachynskaya, Uladzimir Lemesh were fined 7 basic units (245,000 Br, or $87).

To express solidarity with the arrested, oppositional politicians, human rights activists, young activists gathered near the court of Tsentralny district. Among them were directors of the Free Theatre Natalya Kalyada and Mikalai Khalezin, leaders of the Belarusian Popular Front party Alyaksei Yanukevich and Lyavon Barshcheuski, human rights activists Valyantsin Stefanovich and Uladzimir Labkovich, the chairperson of the union of the Belarusians of the world “Batskaushchyna” (Fatherland) Alena Makouskaya and others.

However neither politicians nor human rights activists were told anything about the detained and about the ongoing trials. The building of the court was cordoned off by riot police, lots of policemen were inside the building too.

The courts were held behind the closed doors, human rights activists were not allowed to enter.

We remind that a protest against bringing Russian troops in Belarus with the slogan “No to Russian Occupation!” was brutally dispersed in Minsk yesterday. Before and during the rally dozens of oppositionists were detained.

A rally under slogans “No to Russian Occupation!” was carried out in protest against starting the strategic military exercises Zapad-2009. First echelons of Russian troops arrived yesterday in Belarus.

One of the aims of the exercises is liquidation of military conflicts, but Belarusian democrats believe the forthcoming exercises threaten independence of Belarus. The Belarusian land has never met such amount of Russian soldiers before – 6000 out of 12500 soldiers, involved in the training, are Russians. Political leader of Russia have stated several times about possible brining Russian troops to Belarus in case of a threat to Lukashenka’s regime.