Homel: 2 Activists Fined for Leaflets, Uladzimir Katsora Imprisoned for 7 Days

The police detained Andrei Aliashkevich and Uladzimir Shumilin in the center of Homel, while the activists were handing out leaflets to inform the citizens about a public meeting with the leader of the For Freedom! movement Aliaksandr Milinkevich, which was not authorized by the local authorities. Aliashkevich and Shumilin were guarded to the police station, where about 1 000 leaflets were confiscated from them and administrative reports under article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (violation of the order of organizing and holding mass actions) were drawn on them.

On 12 February both activists were fined 1 050 000 rubles (about 488 US dollars). The youngsters said that they had received the leaflets from the chair of the local office of the United Civil Party Uladzimir Katsora. That’s why the latter was summonsed to the city police department and confirmed having produced the leaflets. A report under article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (violation of the order of organizing or holding mass actions) was drawn on him. Besides, the police searched the UCP office.

At 2 p.m. Katsora was tried at Savetski district court of Homel. Judge Aliaksandr Kostsikau found him guilty under article 23.34 and sentenced him to 7 days of jail.