Opposition Activist Anatol Askerka Sentenced to 10 Days of Arrest

An opposition activist Anatol Askerka was sentenced to 10 days of arrest by the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk. The politician was arrested on July 16 near the Russian Embassy in Minsk with dozens of other Belarusian citizens, who gathered near the Embassy to demand bringing up the Belarusian issue at the G8 summit in St. Petersburg, and to urge Russia to stop supporting the Belarusian dictatorship.

The verdict was passed by judge Alyaksei Bychko. Riot policemen Syarhei Matlokh and Alyaksandr Sakovich were witnesses at the trial.

Anatol Askerka was taken to the court from the special detention center in Akrestsin Street. He was placed there yesterday together with the leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka. His shirt was torn to ribbons. As said by him, his clothes were torn by riot policemen during detention. They also kicked him in the police bus.

At the trial riot policemen cynically told that Askerka had torn his shirt himself.
Source: www.charter97.org