Freedom day brings five days of jail to Barys Khamaida

The judge of Chyhunachny district court of Vitsebsk Raman Dehoda sentenced well-known political and human rights activist Barys Khamaida for alleged violation of article 23.34, part 3 of the Administrative Code.

Bear in mind that on 25 March the local activists picketed the city administration of Vitsebsk in connection with the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian People’s Republic. Some of them held white-red-white flags and umbrellas. Women unrolled an embroidered cloth with the symbols of the Belarusian People’s Republic. Several minutes after the action’s beginning its participants were approached by the police. Barys Khamaida, Antanina Pivanos and Alena Zaleskaya were detained. At the trial they were accused with having violated article 23.34 and fined. The trial over Barys Khamaida was postponed to 1 April as the activist solicited for interpreter’s services.