Trial of imprisoned opposition activist's wife postponed until May 30

The trial of imprisoned opposition activist Syarhey Kavalenka's wife and two more people has been postponed until May 30.

Alena Kavalenka, as well as Mr. Kavalenka's cousin, Kanstantsin, and Alena Semenchukova, an activist of an opposition group called European Belarus, were arrested early on Friday and accused of chalking "Freedom to Syarhey Kavalenka!" on the sidewalk in front of the building of the Vitsyebsk Regional Court. The trio were charged with disorderly conduct under Article 17 of the Civil Offenses Code.

"A judge of the Kastrychnitski District Court has postponed the trial to examine the police officers who arrested us," Mrs. Kavalenka told BelaPAN.

The arrest came hours before a panel of the Vitsyebsk Regional Court turned down Mr. Kavalenka's appeal against his prison sentence.