Hrodna Businessman Goes on Hunger Strike

Dzmitry Ivanowski was sentenced to 10 days of arrest for organization of a "Silent Rally" of businessmen which took place on March 1. On March 3 Ivanowski announced a hunger-strike in the courtroom, reports RFE/RL.
On March 1 about 500 businessmen gathered near the regional administration building to silently protest against deterioration of conditions of their work. Deputy chair of Perspektyva NGO Dzmitry Ivanowski was not present. He was detained on the eve of the action with leaflets inviting businessmen to come to the "Silent Rally". Kastrychnitski borough court fined Ivanowski for leaflets. However, after the end of the rally he was invited to come to Leninski borough police department, where he was charged with organizing the action he had not even attend. On March 3 Leninski borough court Judge Natalla Kozel decided he was the organizer of the "Silent Rally" and sentenced him to 10 days in jail.