Activists fined over vendors’ protests

The Court of Minsk’s Centraĺny district heard yesterday the cases of 17 opposition activists charged with joining a series of protests staged by entrepreneurs in Minsk in late February and early March.

As a result, opposition leader Mikalai Statkevich was fined 10.5 mln rubles.

Ales Makayeu has been fined 10.5 mln rubles for participatin in three protests: February 28, March 7 and 9.

The same penalty was imposed on Volha Nikalaichyk, Maksim Viniarski, Pavel Vinahradau, BCD co-founder Vital Rymasheuski, Mikalai Kazlou, Leanid Kulakou, and UCP leader Anatol Liabedzka.

Former political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich has been fined 4.2 mln rubles.

The court also fined Mikalai Kolas and Aliaksandr Abramovich.

Several trials, including those of Uladzimir Niakliayeu and Viachaslau Siuchyk, were put off to a later date.