BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

31/07/2007

Belarusian Courts Jail Two Youth Movement Activists

A district court in Minsk on July 30 jailed 19-year-old Franak Vyachorka for seven days, finding him guilty of "petty hooliganism," Belapan reported. Franak Vyachorka, the son of Belarusian Popular Front Chairman Vintsuk Vyachorka, was arrested on July 27 as police blocked opposition activists from holding a rally in Minsk to mark the 17th anniversary of the adoption of Belarus's Declaration of State Sovereignty. Also on July 30, another Minsk district court jailed opposition youth activist Yaraslau Hryshchenya for 15 days. Hryshchenya, who was also arrested on July 27, was convicted of uttering obscenities in public. When they were arrested, both Vyachorka and Hryshchenya were wearing stickers advertising the unsanctioned rally. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/07/3-cee/cee-310707.asp