Artist Ales Pushkin sentenced to 12 days of arrest

The artist was tried behind closed doors. The trial was conducted by Maryna Zapasnikava, a judge from the Leninski District Court of Minsk.

There is no precise information for what Ales Pushkin was punished. The judge's secretary refused to say the reason for the arrest. The court registry for administrative cases said he had been tried under article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, RFE/RL reports.

The staff of the detention center in Akrestin Street confirms that Ales Pushkin has been serving his 12-day term since yesterday.

Pushkin said on the phone at 1 p.m. on 5 December that he had been detained and taken to the Leninski District Police Department of Minsk, after which the phone was turned off.

Officers of the Leninski DPD said they didn't have such a detainee. The same was told by the Leninski District Court and the detention center.

Ales Pushkin has held a performance recently. He came to the Supreme Court with a portrait of a member of anti-Soviet resistance Rastislau Lapitski.

The artist filed an appeal against the decision of the Smarhon District Court which had sentenced him to 10 days in custody for walking with the portrait of Lapitski in Smarhon in September.