Detentions, trials in Belarus for protests against integration with Russia
Leanid Kulakou (right) in court on 27 December 2019 / spring96.org
A new wave of mass detentions and trials took place on 27 December in Belarus, with the majority of the participants in the street protests aganst integration with Russia sentenced to huge fines.
Human rights defenders report that European Belarus activist Leanid Kulakou was sentenced to 10 days of administrative arrest. He will meet the New Year behind bars. Kulakou was also fined BYN1275 ($637). The same amount was awarded to Maja Navumava.
Halina Lahatskaya, Andrei Rohau, Yuras Hubarevoch and Piotr Markelau received a fine of BYN765 ($320). Dzianis Yurkevich, Dzianis Krasachka and Anton Zhylko were fined BYN637 ($218) each.
The trial of Viachaslau Siuchyk was postponed indefinitely because he is currently abroad.
The list of today's detainees also includes Ales Chakholski, one of the leaders of the Christian Conservative Party - Belarusian Popular Front. Blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski was detained in Homiel, and blogger Uladzimir Tsyhanovich was detained in Minsk.
Legalize Belarus and Youth Bloc activist Stanislau Shashok was detained on 26 December in Minsk and sentenced to 15 days of arrest.
The participants of anti-integration protests were also tried en mass on Thursday. Most of them received fines, but Pavel Seviarynets was sentenced to 15 days of arrest, Alena Talstaya - 5 days of arrest.
