Statistics of Freedom Day trials
A courtroom in the Saviecki District Court of Minsk. Photo: Kanstantsin Reutski
On March 27, Minsk and the six regional cities of Belarus hosted trials of persons detained in the lead up to and during the protests of March 25-26. Human rights activists and observers monitored the trials.
According to the Human Rights Center "Viasna", a total of 177 people have been convicte under administrative procedures, with 144 in Minsk, and 33 in the regions: 3 - in Babrujsk, 2 - in Barysaŭ, one - in Brest, 11 - in Viciebsk, 14 - in Homieĺ, and 2 - in Polack.
The observers documented 74 cases of administrative arrest and 93 fines as forms of punishment imposed on the detainees. 56 persons were sentenced to short jail terms in Minsk, while 80 were fined (1 case was dismissed, the consideration of two more has been adjourned, the outcomes of 5 hearings are unknown). In the regions, the corresponding figures are: 18 arrests and 13 fines (outcome of two cases in Viciebsk is unknown).
The period of adminstrative arrest ordered by the courts ranged between 2 and 25 days.
The minimum size of the fine was 46 BYN, while one person was sentenced to a fine of 1,840 BYN (USD 980).
