Minsk court turns down appeal by silent protester
On 16 August, Minsk City Court dismissed a complaint lodged by Yahor Kantsin, appealing an earlier verdict by Minsk Savetski District Court, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.
Having been accused of using foul language in Yakub Kolas Square, Minsk resident Yahor Kantsin served 10 days of administrative arrest for involvement in a “silent protest” on 13 July. At the same time, a video coverage of the protest shows that Mr. Kantsin was detained outside Kolas Square. Moreover, several witnesses said the youngster did not do any unlawful things.
“Once again, the judges are unwilling to see the matter in detail: they failed to hear the witnesses and consider the photo evidence I had provided. However, I am not going to stop – I will appeal the sentence at the Supreme Court, as I still believe that I was punished illegally”, says Yahor Kantsin.
