Brest resident to appeal to Supreme Court against verdict for participating in silent protests

Taras Berazhny filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to cancel the ruling of the district court that punished him allegedly for taking part in silent protests.

Taras Berazhny was detained by police in the evening on June 29 in the centre of Brest and guarded to a police department, where an administrative report against him was drawn up, Viasna human rights centre informs.

The Leninski district court of Brest found him guilty of taking part in an unauthorized event and fined 12 basic units (420,000 rubles) on July 11. Berazhny appealed against this decision to the Brest region court, but the court upheld the verdict.

Taras Berazhny says he did not take part in silent protests, but was just returning home after shopping. As soon as Taras left the shop, two men in mufti detained him giving no reasons for the detention.

Berazhny says the photos attached to the administrative case do not prove he participated in the protests. Moreover, one of the snaps is dated June 28, the day before the protest action.

In the appeal to the Supreme Court Berazhny demands to cancel the decision of the district court. If the Supreme Court upholds the ruling, Taras will apply to Brest human rights activists to prepare an appeal to the UN Human Rights Committee.