Human rights defenders appeal fines at Hrodna Region Court

The Hrodna human rights defenders Viktar Sazonau, Raman Yurhel and Uladzimir Khilmanovich, each of whom has been fined 1.5 million rubles for holding an "unauthorized picket" on 10 December, applied to the Hrodna Region Court.

In their appeals they argue that the charges against them are absurd. Bear in mind that the accusation was grounded only on a photo placed on the web and on insinuations of the police. There is no evidence in the case that the picket was really conducted. Moreover, the police gave contradictory testimonies. However, the judge of the Leninski District Court of Hrodna Vital Liatsko ignored all these circumstances and issued an inadequate sentence.