Yury Rubtsou: I don't stand up before judges on principle

The Minsk city court has heard an appeal filed by activist from Homel Yury Rubtsou.

His appeal was dismissed. On October 6, Minsk's Savetski district court sentenced Yury Rubtsou to 18 months in an open-type correctional facility for insulting judge Kiryl Palulekh (article 391 of the Criminal Code). The charge was grounded on a claim from judge Kiryl Palulekh, who said that Yury Rubtsou had sworn at him during the hearing of an administrative case, Radio Svaboda reports.

The political prisoner didn't stand up before the judge at today's hearing.

“I cannot stand up and show my respect to the judges who depend on one man's will. Standing up before judges is like kneeling before the tsar,” Yury Rubtsou said.