One more sentence for participation in celebration of Day of Europe

Zmitser Khvedaruk, one of the leaders of the Young Front, was sentenced in absentia to 10 days of arrest for participation in the action on 1 May, the Day of Europe. Besides, he must pay a fine of 30 basic units for allegedly resistance to militia during the detention.

Zmitser Khvedaruk had trial in absentia on 12 May, but the activist received a notice of the judgement only after 11 days.

“So, I wasn’t even given time for appealing against the unlawful sentence,” Zmitser Khvedaruk told to the Young Front press service. “It’s interesting to note that the judicial decision says I received a summons and even signed it. But I, as other participants of the action on 1 May, didn’t receive any summons and didn’t sign anything. It is lies.”

Zmitser Khvedaruk was accused of the fact “he was staying near the library with a blue flag with yellow stars, by these action calling citizens to join the European Union.” A militia report of “resistance” notes that “when militia officers came up to Zmitser Khvedaruk, he fell to the ground, and officers had to use force.”

It should be reminded that activists of the campaign “European Belarus” raised up EU flags during the celebration of the Day of Europe near the National Library, after that they (about 30 people) were detained by riot militia officers. Militiamen snatched away flags, broke flagpoles, beat people during the detention.

Reports for “violation of order of holding mass events” were drawn up in the Pershamaiski district militia department against youth activists Zmitser Dashkevich, Artur Finkevich, Zmitser Khvedaruk, Yauhen Afnahel, Paval Yukhnevich and Maksim Serhiets. Most of the young men were sentenced to 7-day arrests in absentia.

Earlier Mikola Statkevich, one of the action organisers and one of the leaders of the “European Belarus” campaign, served a 15-day arrest for participation in the action near the National Library.

Radio Svaboda notes that legislative rules forbid deliver judgement on the articles of the law on mass events, when the accused is not invited to court.