Viachaslau Kasinerau: There We’ve Got "Critical Mass"

The traffic cops did not ignore the July cycle race participants.

The participants of another Critical Mass cycle race, which was held in Minsk on July 28, have received summons from the Tsentralny district traffic police. Viachaslau and Maryna Kasinerau are accused of violating the traffic rules under Art. 18.23 of the Administrative Code (violating traffic rules by a pedestrian and other road users). They can be punished with a fine in the amount of one to three basic units, the HRC Viasna reports.

The consideration of their administrative case is scheduled for August 8.

Several cyclists tried to draw attention to their rights in Minsk on July 28. There were very few participants because of the large number of law enforcement officers in civilian clothes.

Two men took part in the race of solidarity with political prisoner Dzmitry Palienka, who is serving a sentence in the Babruisk correctional colony, and along the cyclists’ route two cars with people in civilian clothes were following them.

"The critical mass was there," – Kasinerau wrote on Facebook. – A couple of activists got all the possible pleasures from the rally. Being chased by the cops, an attempt to detain (being knocked off the bicycle), etc. Why do you need those rights on the roads? Why do you need any rights? It will be someone else’s job to struggle and serve the sentence…"