Appeals by Viasna human rights defenders to be considered on 27 and 31 August

Appeals of human rights defenders representing the Human Rights Center "Viasna", Tatsiana Reviaka and Uladzimir Labkovich, against the verdict of the Savetski District Court of Minsk are expected to be considered by the Minsk City Court on 27 August and 31 August, respectively. The human rights defenders are appealing a fine of 3 million rubles each for alleged violating the Code on Administrative Offences (Art. 23.34 – “illegal picketing”).

On August 5, the human rights activists as a sign of solidarity with the imprisoned chairman of the HRC "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski handed out postcards with his portrait in central Minsk. As a result, Tatsiana Reviaka and Uladzimir Labkovich were detained. They were taken to the Savetski District Court, but released the same day as the police reports were drafted with errors.

The trial was resumed the following day. The court convicted the human rights activists of violating Art. 23.34 of the Administrative Code and punished them by a fine of 3 million rubles each.

At the trial, the human rights defenders said that the existing Law "On Mass Events" is contrary to Art. 33, 34 and 35 of the Constitution. Moreover, the law limits the rights laid down by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 19).