Updated at 13:52,22-04-2024

Protesters Arrested And Fined For Rallying Against Integration With Russia

TUT.BY / BelarusFeed

Protesters Arrested And Fined For Rallying Against Integration With Russia
Courts in different regions of the country fined and arrested the activists, who took part in protests for independence and sovereignty of Belarus last December.

The trials were held in Minsk, Vitebsk, Lida, Pinsk, Gomel and other cities. Sentences are imposed on the basis of parts 1 and 3 of Article 23.34 of the CAO for organizing or participating in unauthorized mass events.

Ten people were arrested so far. Other participants keep receiving fines, as the trials continue. About 60 people – politicians and activists, bloggers, journalists, writers, priests – were sentenced. Some of them were tried several times.

The total amount of fines has already exceeded BYN 55,500 ($26,170) at the moment. Co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Pavel Sevyarynets, one of the protests’ organizers, was sentenced to 15 days of arrest for the protest on 20 December.



After that, he was immediately tried for the protest of December 21 and again given 15 days. The politician was additionally fined. Bloggers Dmitry Kozlov, known as the “Grey Cat”, and Sergey Tihanovsky were sentenced to 15 days. Earlier they had already been convicted for 15 days.

The BY_Help initiative, which helped community activists and journalists pay fines in 2017 and 2018, announced the start of new fundraising to pay fines against anti-integration rallies.

The organizers of the fundraising believe that the total amount of fines can reach BYN 80,000 ($37,720). Money can be transferred to a card or a special account. All bank details are indicated on the page of the initiative.