FOUR HINDU GROUP MEMBERS SENTENCED TO ARRESTS

05.09.2002

https://spring96.org/en/news/11531 2002 2002-09-05T10:00:00+0300 2002-09-05T10:00:00+0300 1970-01-01T03:00:00+0300 en The Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna” The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

Four members of a Hindu group were sentenced to jail for organizing a picket, protesting against the state policy to support the monopoly of the Orthodox church.
On 3 September the borough court of Minsk heard the case of Siarhei Akadanaw, head of Hindu group "Shava-Shakta". He was charged with participation in an unauthorized picket on 17 August. The picketers protested against discriminating state policy towards other religions, but Russian Orthodox. Siarhei Akadanaw was sentenced to 10 days of jail.
Akadanaw's wife, Tatsiana Akadanava, was also found guilty and sentenced to 10 days of arrest. Siarhei and Tatsiana went on hunger-strike.
Zmitser Alisevich and Alaksei Ramanchuk, members of "Shava-Shakta" received the same sentences. At present 4 of the detained picketers are behind the bars. Other picketers still wait for trials.