BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

02/04/2008

Belarusian Opposition Activist Faces Heavy Sentence

Judge Alena Ilyina from Minsk's Tsentralny District Court ruled on April 1 that opposition activist Andrey Kim should remain in jail, and postponed his trial indefinitely, Belapan reported. The judge rejected the defense's motion that the 22-year-old Kim be released on bail or on his own recognizance. Kim has been held in jail since January 21, when he was arrested together with more than 20 other participants in an unsanctioned demonstration in Minsk against the government's restrictive policies regarding small-business owners. At that time Kim received a 10-day sentence and a fine of $490 (see "RFE/RL Newsline," January 22, 2008). But prosecutors subsequently charged him under a Criminal Code article on violence or threats of violence against a police officer that carries a penalty of up to six years in prison. A charge of "active participation in group actions grossly disturbing the public peace" was later added. Several dozen young opposition protesters gathered near the courthouse on April 1 to display their solidarity with Kim, but were soon pushed back by police. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/04/3-cee/cee-020408.asp

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