Freedom Day Participant Sentenced to 14 Days of Jail

On 25 April 2003 the administrative case against Valiantsin Baranaw was considered for the second time. The first verdict of this court (made by Judge Shylko on 24 March) was set aside by Minsk City Court due to the fact that the policemen who participated in the trial as witnesses, Suiko and Ziamtsow, didn't really detain the defendant, though they said they detained him and were in the uniform at that time.

On 25 April the case was considered by Judge Tserashkova, who made the same verdict.

Here's the comment of "Viasna" lawyer Valiantsin Stefanovich: "The new consideration was made with violations. My opinion is that Judge by no means could root her decision in the testimonies of these policemen, as she did, due to the fact that Minsk City Court doubted in these testimonies".