5 days of arrest for EU flag in bag

The Tsentralny district court of Minsk found activist of the “European Belarus” civil campaign Palina Kuryanovich guilty with “hooliganism”. Militia detained her because she had a EU flag in her bag.

It should be reminded that the girl was detained on 3 July about 8.00 in the evening in the Minsk center by unknown people in civvies. They said they were militia officers and searched Palina’s personal belongings. Some EU flags were found in Palina Kuryanovich’s bag. The activist of the “European Belarus” was guarded to the Tsentralny district militia department and then to the jail on Akrestin Street.

As Radio Svaboda reports, judge Tatsyana Paulyuchuk found her guilty with “using of foul language” and sentenced her to 5 days of arrest. The judge refused to hear witnesses for the defence, based her judgement on evidence of a militiaman.

It should be added that militia officers didn’t gave any information about location of Palina. Time of a trial and an article, the activist was going to be accused of, were kept secret before the trial.