Hrodna protesters appeal verdicts

Hrodna residents Aliaksei Aliaksandrau and Ihar Hryhalets, fined BYR 1,050,000 and 875,000, respectively, for participation in a “silent protest” on 9 July, have lodged appeals against the verdicts.

Another convicted protester – Kanstantsin Kaplin – is also going to appeal the verdict. According to the police report, he was clapping his hands, despite the fact he has a prosthetic arm.

In their appeals, the convicts, sentenced to big fines, are trying to find out whether walking around the city is an offence. They are also demanding to provide explanations on the plain-clothes persons who detained them.

The protesters say they are shocked by the brutal actions by plain-clothes policemen, as well as by the verdicts pronounced by Hrodna courts.

According to www.harodniaspring.org, nearly half of the convicted protesters are going to appeal the sentences.