Pensioner Sviatlana Danilava fined for distribution of free press

Ludmila Savastsian, judge of Savetski district court of Minsk, fined the pensioner 5 basic units.

 
 Sviatlana Danilava, pensioner from Barysau, was detained on January 20th near Kamarouski market for distribution of the Narodnaya Volia newspaper. The policemen also found newspapers Tavaryshch, Nash Vabor, Svaboda Belarusi, and Nash Chas newspapers. The policemen took Sviatlana Danilava to the police station and drew up a report under article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (violation of the established order of organizing or holding a mass event). They reason for such a charge was the fact that newspaper Nash Vybor contained information about the entrepreneurs’ rally, which was to be held on January 21st. the independent editions were confiscated from the pensioner.

Today Danilava was tried. Despite the confused testimony given by police officers – V.V. Sasnouski and M.S. Serzhan, the judge recognized the pensioner guilty and fined her 5 basic units (175 thousand BYR). Sviatlana Danilava thinks it makes no sense to appeal against the court verdict since she lost faith in the Belarusian justice a long time ago.