Court turns down Ryhor Kastusiou's appeal

February 3, Mahiliou Regional Court turned down the appeal of the Deputy Chair of the Belarusian Popular Front Ryhor Kastusiou against the verdict of the Shklou District Court, according to which he had been sentenced to a fine of 3,750,000 roubles form taking part in the commemoration of participants of the Kalinouski uprising of 1963-1864, held on October 26, 2014.

The hearing of the appeal was held by Judge of the Mahiliou Regional Court Mikalai Hladki, in the Belarusian language. The judge ignored the arguments of Mr. Kastusiou regarding the numerous violations of the law by Judge Sviatlana Barantsava during the hearing of his case at the Shklou District Court and left the verdict of the court of the first instance in force.

Ryhor Kastusiou stated his intention to continue appealing against the unlawful verdict.

Let us remind that Mr. Kastusiou, along with many other social and political activists, was fined for taking part in the traditional commemoration of participants of the uprising of Kastus Kalinouski against the Russian Empire in 1863-1864. The commemoration was held in the town of Svislach on October 26, 2014. The whole event was watched by people in civvies and shot on video by a police cameraman.