UCP picketers to stand trials today
Three participants of yesterday’s picket organized by the United Civil Party, UCP leader Anatol Liabedzka, Uladzimir Ramanouski, head of the Belarusian branch of the international organization "Memorial", and Aliaksandr Arastovich, first deputy chairman of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada),are awaiting trial after they were detained and brought to the detention center in Akrestsin Street. Their charges will be heard at the SavetskiDistrict Court of Minsk.
The activists were detained on March 16 near Minsk’s Kamarouski market. They were charged under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (participation in an unauthorized mass event).
Theparticipants of the picket, which was agreed with the authorities as a pre-election event, were holding portraits of political prisoners, as well as the missing politicians Viktar Hanchar and Yury Zakharanka, businessman Anatol Krasouski and journalist Dzmitry Zavadski.
About ten people were detained, including cameramenAles Silich and Henadz Veratsinski. They were taken to the police department of Savetski district, BelaPAN says.
Some of the detainees, including Volha Mayoravaand Hanna Kanapatskaya, were released three hours later, having faced administrative charges under Article 23.34, "participation in an unsanctioned event". Their trial will be held today, as well.
Journalists Ales Silich and Natallia Valakidawere also released from the police department.
