Fine for hanging out white-red-white flag in Brest

The commission on affairs of under-aged of Maskouski District Executive Committee of Brest fined 18-year-old Uladzislau Barouski 50,000 rubles.

As stated by human rights defender Raman Kisliak, the decision was taken by the commission on 4 April, after the consideration of the administrative case against Barouski under Article 23.34, part 1 of the Code of Administrative Violations (participation in an unauthorized mass event).

As specified by Mr. Kisliak, the case was considered by the commission on affairs of under-aged persons as far as Barouski was 17 years old at the moment of the detention.

The activists of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Uladzislau Barouski, Yauhen Khaziakhmetau and Andrei Sharenda were detained by the police on 18 March in Maskouskaya Street near the park of soldiers-internationalists, where a white-red-white flag was hanged out on an armored personnel carrier.

The detainees were guarded to Maskouski District Police Department of Brest. Barouski, who didn't deny hanging out the white-red-white flag on the armored personnel carrier, and Khaziakhmetau, who stated that he didn't take part in the action but just made photos, were presented notices to come to Maskouski DPD on 20 March. Sharenda stated to the police that he was just walking in that place. The detainees were released from the DPD without receiving any charges. On 20 March Barouski and Khaziakhmetau received charges under Article 23.34, part 1.

On 22 March Maskouski District Court of Brest fined Sharenda 2.5 million rubles and Khaziakhmetau – 1 million rubles. The violation report against Sharenda was drawn up without his participation and the trial took place in his absence.