Opposition activist Andrey Molchan sentenced to $120 fine for pasting sticker against death penalty

A judge of the Pershamayski District Court in Minsk on Tuesday sentenced Andrey Molchan, a member of an opposition group called European Belarus, to a fine of one million rubels ($120). 

The young man was arrested by police in Minsk’s northeastern neighborhood Urucha on the night between July 13 and 14 for allegedly putting a sticker saying “No to the Death Penalty!” on a wall under a bridge. Police officers found such stickers on him following the arrest. 

According to Mr. Molchan’s mother, her son was beaten up after being taken to the Pershamayski district police station. 

“Police officers who testified during the trial contradicted each other, but this did not prevent Andrey from being found guilty of disorderly conduct and causing damage to public property,” his associate, Maksim Vinyarski, told BelaPAN. 

Mr. Molchan was held in the detention center on Akrestsina Street until July 16. His trial was postponed to July 24 after the police officers who had arrested him failed to show up in the court. 

On July 4, Mr. Molchan was sentenced to a fine of 800,000 rubels for displaying a white-red-white flag in front of an Urucha retail store on May 19 in solidarity with imprisoned opposition activist Syarhey Kavalenka. He was beaten up during the arrest and spent almost a week in a hospital.