Oppositionists punished with fines for celebrating Independence Day
1- 3.09.2009, 13:48
The district court of Haradok fined dweller of Vitsebsk Taras Surhan 10 basic units for participation in a picket on July 27.
The sum of the fine was 350,000 Belarusian rubles. Taras Surhan was detained in Haradok (the Vitsebsk region) on July 27 during an action dedicated to the Independence Day, Radio Svaboda reports.
The militia reports, drawn up against the activist, says Surhan came to Lenin Square with a white-red-white flag and violated by this legislative rules of holding street events.
We remind that on July 27, some local oppositionists led by chairman of the Haradok branch of the BPF party Leanid Autukhou went to the town central square to congratulate town dwellers on the anniversary of adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty of Belarus. The oppositions raised national flags and shouted “Long Live Belarus!”. All participants were fined.
The authorities cancelled the holiday after the referendum in 1996 that also gave unlimited power to Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Independence Day is now officially celebrated on the Day OF liberation of Minsk from Nazi Invaders on July 3. The democratic community continues to celebrate Independence Day on July 27.
