Continuation of Trials over Participants of Freedom Day Action on 25 March, 15 Days of Jail to the BPF Head
1. Iosif Burko – detained in Arlowskaya Street together with Vintsuk Viachorka. The administrative case against him (part 1 of Article No. 167.1 of the Code of Administrative Violations, participation in unauthorized action) was considered by Judge Tatsiana Pawliuchuk, who postponed the trial to 12 a.m. on 29 March. On 29 March I. Burko received warning.
2. Zmitser Kuzmitski, citizen of Lida, detained near the Stella, kept at BBIA till 8 p.m., then released. The case (part 1 of Article No. 167.1 of the CAV) was considered by Natalia Vaytsiakhovich, who fined the defendant 20 minimal wages (about $100).
3. Mikhail Valochka (born in 1934), detained near the Stella, kept at BBIA till 8 p.m., then released. Was fined 20 minimal wages as well.
4. Vintsuk Viachorka, Head of the BPF “Adradzhenne”, detained in Arlowskaya Street. After 9 p.m. on 25 March was released from Minsk Thsentralny Borough Board of Internal Affairs. On 26 April the administrative case against him, initiated for alleged violation of Article No. 167.2 of the CAV (organization of unauthorized procession) was considered by Judge Natalia Vaytsiakhovich, who postponed the trial to 2 p.m. on 28 March. On 28 March Vintsuk Viachorka solicited for leading the trial in Belarusian language, which is the first State language of the two. At first the judge refused, but the BPF Head insisted, so she announced an hour’s break and then postponed the trial to 10 a.m. on 29 March.
On 29 March Judge violated all process norms – she didn’t allow the advocate Siarhey Tsurko to speak in Viachorka’s defense, deprived Viachorka of the last word and satisfied no solicitations. The case consideration started at 10 a.m., at 12.30 Judge announced a break till 4 p.m. At 5.30 she rejected all petitions and immediately read the verdict to V. Viachorka – 15 days of jail. V. Viachorka was taken to the detention center of the Internal Affairs Board at Minsk City Executive Committee right from the court.
