UCP activists gets five days in jail

UCP member Anton Zhylko stood trial today in the Court of Minsk’s Partyzanski district on charges of distributing leaflets advertising Freedom Day celebrations expected on March 25 and authorized by the officials.

Despite this, on March 21 candidate Zhylko was detained at the entrance to the subway station "Traktarny Zavod", where along with his proxy Hanna Kanapatskaya he handed out flyers and invitations to a meeting with voters.

As a result, Anton Zhylko was charged under Article 23.32 of the Administrative Code, “illegal picketing”.

Today, he was sentenced to five days in jail, but was released to appeal the court decision.

Anton Zhylko sent a complaint to the Minsk City Court to stress that his actions were not an offense. The Human Rights Center "Viasna" has provide legal aid to the activist.