Head of Polatsk Strikers Is Tried

At 4 p.m. on 3 March, the third day of the nationwide strike, the vice-chair of Polatsk regional organization of Belarusian Independent Trade-union and informal leader of the strike of businessmen in Polatsk district Valery Shauchenka was summoned to Polatsk City Borough Board of Internal Affairs without any explanations. When he came there, he was informed he was charged with violation of Article 167.1 of the Code of Administrative Code – organization of unauthorized meeting. Here the police meant the everyday pickets in the central square of the city. At 7 p.m. Mr. Shauchenka was taken to Polatsk City Court. During the case consideration the defendant demanded from the judge Natallia Abramava to interrogate his witnesses, as a result of which she had to postpone the trial to 10 March.

According to RFE/RL