Editor of “Baranavitskaia Hazeta” Is Fined

On 6 February the court of Baranavichy and Baranavichy District tried the editor of “Baranavitskaia Hazeta” Uladzimir Hundar, disabled. Judge Zhana Kapacheuskaia found him guilty in violation of part 1 of article 167.1 of the Code of Administrative Violations of the Republic of Belarus (organization or participation in unauthorized action) and fined him. The reason for Hundar’s detention became the article and the photo that were printed in ”Intex-press” and was devoted to the Solidarity Day that is held on 16th day of each month. It is worth mentioning that on 18 January the opposition activist Siarhei Marchyk was also fined on the basis of the photo and the article.

On 16 December several dozens of people with lit candles came to the central square of Baranavichy in order to express their solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners and families of the missing politicians. The police considered it as unauthorized assembly and violation of the public order. However, only two activists of the democratic movement, Siarhei Marchyk and Uladzimir Hundar, were punished.

Mr. Hundar disagrees with the verdict and is going to complain against it to the supreme court instances.