Human rights defender Andrei Bandarenka sentenced to 5 days of arrest
The Court of Minsk’s Maskouski district considered yesterday administrative charges brought against the mother of Ihar Ptsichkin who died in Minsk detention center this August and director of a human rights group called “Platform Innovation” Andrei Bandarenka. They were accused of unauthorized picketing.
On Wednesday, Zhanna Ptsichkina and Andrei Bandarenka demanded to provide access to lawyers. Therefore, the court session was adjourned.
Zhanna Ptsichkina was brought to the court in the evening of November 13 after being detained at home by policemen and unknown persons in civilian clothes. She was accused of evading appearance before the court in an administrative case opened after a picket staged on September 14. On that day, relatives of the deceased and other citizens were planning to hold a protest in his memory outside the jail. 18 people were detained then.
Andrei Bandarenka was charged under the same article.
As a result, Judge Khatkevich ruled to issue a warning to Zhanna Ptsichkina. Before that, she removed from the court a reporter and Zhanna Ptsichkina’s daughter with a child.
The case of human rights activist Andrei Bandarenka was considered until about 10 p.m., when Judge Motyl sentenced him to five days of administrative arrest on charges of participating in an unsanctioned picket. During the proceedings the Judge rejected the counsel's request to examine certain photos and videos.
