Vitsebsk Citizens Are Warned for Mourning

On 24 June 8 Vitsebsk citizens went out to the Freedom Square with a portrait of Vasil Bykaw, collection of his works, flowers and white-red-white flags with a black stripe. Several dozens of other citizens joined this mournful action that in 20 minutes was stopped by the police. Two of the action organizers, Barys Khamayda and Yan Tawpyha, who were holding the flag and the portrait, were taken first to a police point and then Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski borough court.

Judge Zhurawkova started trying them yet after the end of the working day. The detainees’ claims that Vasil Bykaw’s death is an shocking event for every Belarusian didn’t impress her. She stated that they were to have filed a written application for the action at least 15 days before it. As they hadn’t done so, the judge found the guilty of the public order violation and warned them.