Vitsebsk: trial of “European Belarus” activists
Ivan Salokhin and Uladzislau Varanetski were detained
in the evening of 11 December, while trying to hang out the banner “Freedom to
political prisoners!” on a bridge.
They were detained by policemen in civvies, driving an ordinary civil car. One
of them hit Varanetski in the eye while seizing the mobile telephone, by which
the latter tried to tell about his detention. He also threatened to smother the
activists if they complained about their health or insisted on calling an
ambulance.
They spent the night at a detention facility. At about 10 a.m. on 12 December
Varanetski contacted his friends by phone and informed them that he and
Salokhin were taken the Chyhunachny District Court of Vitsebsk.
Judge Alena Tsyhankova didn't give the defendants any time for concluding
agreements with counsels, saying that they had no money for it in any case. She
found Salokhin and Varanetski guilty of violating Article 23.34 of the Code of
Administrative Violations, and issued them with official warnings, as it was
their first trial.
