Chyhunachny district court of Vitebsk fined ‘Young Front’ activist Taras Surhan for white-red-white flag

The youth activist was arrested for an attempt to hang out a national white-red-white flag on the bridge above the Western Dvina River on Solidarity Day, 16 July. As RFE/RL reports, Taras Surhan was fined 175 000 Belarusian rubles (about $62).

Judge of the Chyhunachny district court Uladzislau Shyrokau followed the police report, drawn up against the youth activist, accusing Taras Surhan of holding an unauthorized picket.

The defendant doesn’t agree with this phrasing: he said at the trial that it his action had been conscious, but it wasn’t a picket.

Valery Ramanenka, activist of Young Hramada, was summoned to Chyhunachny district court of Vitsebsk in connection with a police report, drawn up on him following the detention on 16 July. The report says Ramanenka has relation to hanging out the banner ‘Freedom to Political Prisoners!’ on the bridge above the Dvina River.

Valery Ramanenka stated at the trial he had been detained when he was passing by the banner, so he didn’t admit his guilt. Nevertheless, judge Uladzislau Shyrokau gave an administrative warning to the activist. Katsiaryna Aliakseyeva and Filip Shaurou were detained together with Taras Surhan and Valery Ramanenka in Vitsebsk on 16 July.