Minsk court turns down appeal by For Freedom activist

Judge Uladzimir Karnou of Minsk City Court has dismissed a complaint lodged by famous blogger and member of the For Freedom opposition movement Yuras Navitski, who attempted to appeal the 12-day administrative arrest he received for alleged swearing in a public place, www.pyx.by reports.

In his appeal, Mr. Navitski argued that he was not provided with access to a counsel’s assistance during the trial at Leninski District Court. Apart from that, the plaintiff referred to the absence of evidence in the case, with the policemen’s testimonies being suspiciously similar. He also said he never used obscene language, let alone using it at the burial site of the victims of Stalinist repressions.