Authorities fear Freedom Day

Today a “European Belarus” activist Mikita Kavalenka has been sentenced to 6 days’ arrest by the court of Savetski district.

The young man was detained near the railway station. Two administrative reports against him were drawn up under articles 17.1 and 21.14 of the Administrative Code, for alleged petty hooliganism and disobedience to legal demands of a policeman, the press-service if the campaign reports.

Today during the trial after long discussions caused by numerous inconsistencies in the report under Article 21.14, it was sent for follow-on revision. Despite confused evidence of witnesses I. Leglik, O. Yurojts and N. Balbutski (as usual, witnesses were policemen), judge T.A. Tkachova found Mikita guilty and sentenced him to 6 days’ arrest. the activist also spent the night before the trial at the police department.

Activists of the campaign think that the arrest is a usual practice of “neutralization” of oppositionists in the run-up to mass rallies, and remind that the meeting and the march on Freedom Day have been sanctioned by Minsk city executive committee.