Baranavichy activist Viktar Syrytsa appeals fine for Milavidy festival at Supreme Court

On January 13 social activist Viktar Syrytsa filed a complaint with the Supreme Court against the decision of Judge of the Baranavichy City and District Court Katsiaryna Hruda and Judge of the Brest Regional Court Natallia Surma on the case of Milavidy festival.

Bear in mind that by the ruling of Judge Katsiaryna Hruda of July 31, 2013 Viktar Syrytsa was found guilty under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses and sentenced to a fine of 2 million rubles for the alleged preparation and organization of an unauthorized rally in Milavidy on June 2, 2013. Judge of the Brest Regional Court Natallia Surma found no reasons to reverse the verdict of the court of the first instance. Chair of the Brest Regional Court, Tamara Suchok, dismissed Mr. Syrytsa's appeal against Natallia Surma's verdict, after which the activist decided to appeal to the Supreme Court.

In his appeal Mr. Syrytsa argues that no unauthorized mass event was held June 2 near the Milavidy monuments. What he really did was the organization of a trip to the official holiday, announced by the state-owned newspaper “Nash Krai”. He didn't hold a rally in Milavidy, but just explained to the people why the official holiday didn't take place and told them what can be done next.

According to Mr. Syrytsa, the courts ignored the act which was composed on June 2, 2013 and signed by nine people. The fact that no rally was held in Milavidy was also witnessed by the written errand of the prosecutor to the Baranavichy DPD, which was also ignored by the court. The prosecutor obliged the DPD to hold an investigation into the fact of holding a cultural festival on June 2 in the village of Rusino (Sasnovaya Street, 5) in the Baranavichy district. However, instead of it the DPD drew two violation reports on Viktar Syrytsa for the alleged holding of the “unauthorized rally” in Milavidy which hadn't taken place.

Viktar Syrytsa asks the Supreme Court to reverse the verdict of the Baranavichy City and District Court for July 31, 2013 and the verdict of the Brest Regional Court of August 29, 2013, and terminate the administrative proceedings against him because of the lack of an administrative offense.