Syarhei Kavalenka stands trial in Vitsebsk
Syarhei Kavalenka’s trial started on the morning of May 12 in Vitsebsk. He is accused of having hoisted a national flag on the highest Christmas tree of the city on January 7. The activist is accused of hooliganism and disobedience to the police. He may be imprisoned for up to 5 years. About 30 people were present at the hearing. The judge did not allow taking pictures in the court room and started removing viewers. Pavel Sevyarynets who was removed from the court room together with one more viewer has informed ERB about it. The reason for it was the fact that they smiled when the indictment was being read out.
Sevyarynets: "They were smiling when the judge was reading out the indictment because it was very funny to hear that Kavalenka was struggling with a platoon of special police troops on his own when they were attacking the Christmas tree. He kept beating them disorderly… They were victims… He insulted their authority… Naturally, half of the present started smiling! The judge Yauhen Burunou pointed at us: “You and you must leave the court room until the end of the hearing”.
By the way, one more national white-red-white flag was hoisted in the city centre on a building near the Technological University on May 12.
Sevyarynets: "They were smiling when the judge was reading out the indictment because it was very funny to hear that Kavalenka was struggling with a platoon of special police troops on his own when they were attacking the Christmas tree. He kept beating them disorderly… They were victims… He insulted their authority… Naturally, half of the present started smiling! The judge Yauhen Burunou pointed at us: “You and you must leave the court room until the end of the hearing”.
By the way, one more national white-red-white flag was hoisted in the city centre on a building near the Technological University on May 12.
