Young opposition activist jailed after being caught pasting up leaflet on Freedom Day demonstration
Young opposition activist Mikita Kavalenka, a member of European
Belarus, was sentenced Thursday to six days in jail after being caught
pasting up a leaflet on a sanctioned opposition demonstration to be held
in Minsk on March 25.
A judge of Minsk’s Savetski
District Court found the man guilty of “petty hooliganism” and
disobeying police orders, said the press office of European Belarus.
Three police officers testified in court, making conflicting statements, said the press office.
Mr. Kavalenka was arrested near the central railway station the previous day and spent the night in custody.
European
Belarus spokesman Alyaksandr Atroshchankaw denounced the jail sentence
against him as a measure to prevent the young man from taking part in
the “Dzen Voli” (Freedom Day) demonstration that will mark 94 years
since the proclamation of the 1918 Belarusian National Republic (BNR).
