Huge fine for action of solidarity with political prisoners

“European Belarus” activist Maksim Vinyarski, arrested yesterday for taking part in a picket with demands to free political prisoners, was fined 1,050,000 rubles.

Ten activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” came to Yakub Kolas Square with portraits of Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka, and Artsyom Dubski in the evening September 21. The young oppositionists were shouting “Freedom to Political Prisoners!”

The picket lasted for 20 minutes. Maksim Vinyarski was detained when the picketers were going to leave the square. The democratic activist spent the night in a jail in Akrestin Street and stood trial today, the website of “European Belarus” reports.

The case was heard by Aksana Relyava, a judge of the Savetski district court of Minsk. Militiaman Knyazeu and cadet of the Militia Academy Labko were witnesses at the trial.

Vinyarski’s lawyer Paval Sapelka drew’s attention of the judge to controversial facts in evidence and called to close the case referring to the regulation of the Supreme Court, according to which standing with portrait is not rally or a picket and mustn’t applied for to the local authorities.

Nevertheless, the judge found Vinyarski guilty of violation article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences and sentenced him to a fine of 30 basic units, or 1,050,000 Belarusian rubles.