Criminal Cases for Participation in 10 January Entrepreneurs’ Rally

Recently a criminal case has been brought on the fact of ‘organization and active participation in the actions that grossly violate the public order’ (article 342, part 1 of the Criminal Code), in connection with the peaceful action of the Belarusian entrepreneurs that was held on 10 January in the center of Minsk. The punishments on this article vary from fine to 3 years of jail. At present there are 14 accused in the case.

Here’s the list of the accused in the alphabetical order: 

• Aliaksandr Barazenka, studies at Wroclaw university (Poland), not allowed to leave Belarus. On 11 January was sentenced to 15 days of jail for participation in the entrepreneurs’ action. Received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Aliaksei Bondar, activist of the underground youth organization Initiative, sentenced to five days of jail for participation in the protest action of entrepreneurs that was held on 21 January. Received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Ales Charnyshou, activist of the For Freedom movement. On 11 January was sentenced to 15 days of jail for participation in the entrepreneurs’ action. Received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Maksim Dashuk, minor, detained during the 10 January action, the case was directed to the administrative commission on cases of minors. Received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Artsiom Dubski, activist of the underground organization Young Front from Asipovichy. Was sentenced to 15 days of jail for participation in the entrepreneurs’ action, then received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Andrei Kim, 21 years old, activist of the Initiative, was fined 1 050 000 rubles (about 488 US dollars) and sentenced to 10 days of jail for participation in the 10 January action. Received charges under article 364 of the Criminal Code (‘violence or threat violation against policeman’) and placed to pre-trial prison in Valadarski Street in Minsk. Appeals against the restraint gave no result.
• Anton Koipish, 20 years old, expelled from the 4th year of the mechanical-mathematical faculty of Belarusian State University because of ‘poor academic progress’. Received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Mikhas Kryvau, youth activist, on 11 January was sentenced to 15 days of jail for participation in the entrepreneurs’ action. Received charges under part 1 of article 342.
• Mikhas Pashkevich, vice-chairman of the Young Democrats organization. Received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Uladzimir Siarheyeu, activist of the Young Front, sentenced to 15 days of jail under article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (‘violation of the order of organizing and holding mass actions’). Received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Ales Straltsou, member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada. Received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Mikhas Subach, former entrepreneur, was fined 1 400 000 rubles (about 650 US dollars) for participation in the protest actions on 10 and 21 January. Received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Tatsiana Tsishkevich, activist of For Freedom movement. Was expelled from the first year of Minsk Institute of Physical Culture. Sentenced to 20 days of jail for participation in the 10 January action. Beaten by the riot police while being guarded to Tsentralny district police department of Minsk. Received charges under article 342, part 1.
• Pavel Viunahradau. On 11 January was sentenced to 15 days of jail under article 23.34 of the Administrative Code ‘violation of the order of organizing and holding mass actions’. Received charges under article 342, part 1.