Freedom Day Aftertaste: Minsk Protesters Stand Trials

Most trials will be held in the Savetski district court of Minsk.

Administrative cases of activists, volunteers, HR defenders and ordinary citizens, detained on March 25 in Minsk, will be considered in Minsk courts today, the HRC "Viasna" informs.

Most trials will be held in the Savetski district court of Minsk approximately at 12.00.

According to human rights defenders, the police have drawn up more than a dozen administrative offenses protocols under Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code (participation in an unauthorized mass event). Several people are charged with disobeying an official under Art. 23.4 of the Administrative Code.

It is known that charges were made against volunteers-observers Maksim Kavaliou (p.3. art. 23.34), Tatsiana Mastykina (Art. 23.4 and 23.34 of the Administrative Code), Andrei Krechka (p.1 Art. 23.34), Ihar Bahachou (p.1 Art. 23.34), human rights activist Nasta Loika (Part 1 Art. 23.34).

Civil activists Siarhei Sparysh, Valiantsin Trokski, Alena Talstaya, Volha Nikalaichyk (the Partyzanski district court), Valer Bychkouski, Artur Zhurau, Halina Tsiarentsieva.

Most were released from the police department without drawing protocols after holding from 1 to 5 hours. Nina Bahinskaya spent the longest time spent in the police department on the Freedom Day - about 9 hours.

According to preliminary data, the number of March 25 detainees in Minsk makes over 60 people. As of the morning of March 26, the names of 42 detainees have been identified. In other cities, about 50 people were detained at different time. Several people remain in the detentions centers.