Minsk court convicts activist Henik Loika

Henik Loika, the activist who staged this morning a picket in support of the Belarusian language to mark International Mother Language Day, was sentenced to five days of administrative arrest.

The activist was detained by Minsk police and charged with illegal picketing (Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code).

He was eventually found guilty of the offence by Judge Liudmila Lapo of Frunzenski District Court.

During the trial, the Judge dismissed several motions by the defense, including a request to summon an interpreter. According to the activist’s sister, Valiantsina, one of the policemen who witnessed in the courtroom had nothing to do with her brother’s arrest.