CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN PARTY MEMBERS RECEIVED HEAVY FINES

December 22, 2003 Vitebsk police detained Uladzimer Pleshchanka and Alexander Salawyan, activists of Christian Conservative party. They were detained while collecting signatures under an appeal demanding the annulment of Russian and Belarus Union Treaty, the Party press service told BelaPAN. The detained were taken to the police station and kept there for 3 hours. After that the police officers took them to Chyhunachny borough court of Vitebsk. Pleshchanka and Salawyan were charged with unauthorized picketing, though the detained claimed they had just collected signatures, and no picket had been held. The judge ruled to fine Pleshchanka 2,475,000 rubles (~1150 USD), and Salawyan – 2,640,000 rubles (~1230 USD).