Siarhei Kavalenka to stand new trial on March 29

The Pershamayski District Court in Vitsebsk on Tuesday opened the hearing of Mr Kavalenka's case but it was postponed till Friday, March 29 after the judge learned Mr Kavalenka's lawyer was unable to make to the hearing.

Euroradio reported earlier that Siarhei Kavalenka was detained in the evening of March 25 for allegedly crossing the street in a wrong place. Traffic police inspectors issued a Br450K ticket. Besides, the former political prisoner was also charged with "public swearing and hands-waving."

Mr Kavalenka links his detention with the 95th anniversary of Belarusian People's Republic, celebrated by pro-democracy forces in Belarus, reports Belapan

An activist with the Conservative Christian Party of Belarusian Popular Front Siarhei Kavalenka in September 2012 was pardoned by the head of the state and walked free ouf a prison in Mahilyou. In detention since December 2011, he was sentenced to 2 years and one month in a prison colony in February 2012 for putting a national white-red-white flag on the highest Christmas tree in Vitsebsk's main square two years ago.