Opposition activist fined over Human Rights Day picket

Leanid Kulakou, activist of the European Belarus opposition movement, has been fined 6.3 mln rubles on charges of staging an illegal picket on December 10, International Human Rights Day.

The activist said that the charges were rigged, but did not deny the fact of the protest:

“I wanted to congratulate Belarusian human rights activists on International Human Rights Day and to express my solidarity in their fight against the death penalty. I don’t view my actions as an offense. They convicted me for my dissent and active civil stand.”

The judge asked if Leanid Kulakou had received permission to stage the picket. The activist replied that freedom of peaceful assembly is enshrined in the Constitution. However, the court did not take these arguments into account and found him guilty of violating Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code.