YURY KHADYKA TRIED FOR PARTICIPATION IN PROTEST MARCH. THE COURT SENT THE POLICE REPORT FOR REVIEW

On 17 March Savetski borough court of Minsk heard the case of Yury Khadyka, vice chairperson of the Belarusian Popular Front Party.
Yury Khadyka was charged under Art 167 –1 of the Code of Administrative Offences (violation of order of organizing and holding an unauthorized mass march).

Judge Ruslan Kazadayew asked Yury Khadyka, if he had been convicted for similar actions during the year.
Khadyka answered he was convicted for participation in a Freedom Day action on 25 March 2002 by one of Hrodna courts. The judge announced a break which lasted for about an hour. After the break the judge sent the police report of Khadyka’s detention back to police for liquidation of drawbacks. Khadyka should have been charged under Art 167-1 part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offences – for repeated violation of order of organizing and holding mass action. The policemen tried to detain Khadyka in the courtroom, but he demanded call-up papers. The police officers quickly wrote the necessary documents and pulled Khadyka to a police car. But Khadyka’s son Kastus opportunely noticed that the papers said Khadyka should report not “as an offender”, but “as a witness”. Viasna lawyer Valantsin Stefanovich says: “The police officers looked confused and did not managed to detain Khadyka. We also learned that the police was looking for Valantsin Holubew (deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the 12th convocation). Obviously, they are going to detain everybody who was speaking at the rally of 12 March. Such actions of the authorities can be considered as an attempt to intimidate people before the action of 25 March, devoted to 85th anniversary of announcing Belarusian People’s Republic”.
Let us remind you that Professor Yury Khadyka was detained in the morning of 17 March near his house. He was arrested for participation in social action of protest People’s March “For a Better Life!”