UCP Mahiliou leader faces administrative charges
Uladzimir Shantsau, head of the Mahiliou regional organization of the United Civil Party
Uladzimir Shantsau, chair of Mahiliou regional office of the United Civil Party of Belarus, will stand trial for involvement in the organization of so called People’s Assembly on 8 October, following his interrogation last morning.
The activist was charged with violating procedures for holding local assemblies; in particular, Mr. Shantsau is accused of failure to count the number of the People’s Assembly participants in Mahiliou.
This the first case when a person is facing charges for violating procedures for holding local assemblies, says Mahiliou human rights defender Barys Bukhel. In all the previous cases, activists were charged with violating the Mass Events Code.
“As the local authorities admitted that it was a local assembly, Uladzimir Shantsau should not be arrested. In case the court find fault with the minor violations during the event, he may be fined BYR 600,000,” says the human rights defender.
