Trial of Siarhey Antonchyk Postponed to 14 February

On 5 February about a dozen of riot squad policemen and persons in plain clothes burst into the private flat that was rented by the well-known public activist, deputy of the Supreme Soviet Siarhey Antonchyk and where public activists from different regions gathered. The police detained Antonchyk, his wife and about 20 activists. All detainees were taken to Minsk Savetski Borough Board of Internal Affairs, where the police identified them. Then they composed on Antonchyk a report for organization of unsanctioned assembly (part 2 of article #167.1 of the Code of Administrative Violations) and let him go.

On 7 February Minsk Savetski Borough Court started to consider the case against Siarhey Antonchyk, but then the trial was postponed to 2.30 p. on 14 February because of the need to interrogate all witnesses, including the policemen who composed the reports of administrative detention.

If found guilty Siarhey Antonchyk can be sentenced to 10-15 days of jail or fined 150-300 basic values.

At the end of 2004 Siarhey Antonchyk was detained for holding the constituent assembly of “Aichyna” (“Fatherland”) public movement, charged with organization of unauthorized assembly and sentenced to 15 days of jail.

According to RFE/RL