"Solidarity chain" continued by Minsk activists
The Minsk democratic activists Aleh
Lisitski and Ihar Mazheika held a photo action in support of the
Hrodna human rights defenders Uladzimir Khilmanovich, Viktar Sazonau
and Raman Yurhel and the Navapolatsk activists Siarhei Malashenkau
and Yauhen Parchynski.
The juridical absurdity of the
administrative cases against these activists received a wide public
response both in Belarus and abroad.
"By such trials the
Belarusian authorities evidently demonstrate the real situation of
human rights in the country", said Ihar Mazheika.
Bear in
mind that on 29 January the Hrodna Region Court turned down the
appeals of the Hrodna human rights defenders Uladzimir Khilmanovich,
Viktar Sazonau and Raman Yurhel, sentenced to fines of 1.5 million
rubles by the judge of the Leninski District Court of Hrodna Viktar
Liatsko for photographing themselves outdoors with portraits of the
political prisoner Ales Bialiatski.
On 24 January the
Navapolatsk activist Yauhen Parchynski was fined 500,000 rubles by
the head of the Navapolatsk City Court Piatro Liauchonak, who also
stated that that photographing oneself with a portrait of Ales
Bialiatski is a violation of the law "On Mass Events".
On
29 January staff of the Minsk "Viasna" office held a photo
action in support of the Hrodna human rights defenders, "Viasna"
members Uladzimir Khilmanivich and Viktar Sazonau, and a member of
the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.