BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/01/2008

Belarusian Authorities Jail Participants In Vendors' Protest

Minsk district courts on January 11 sentenced 23 participants in the January 10 protest against restrictions on activities of small businesses to jail sentences of largely 15 days, Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. The sentenced activists are: Anatol Shumchanka, leader of the Perspektyva small-business association; Anatol Lyabedzka, leader of the United Civic Party; small-business activist Uladzimir Shyla; and 20 youth activists who were detained by the police at the closing stage of the protest. Five of the youths were jailed with injuries they received during their arrest. Other activists called an ambulance for them as they were standing trial, but a doctor did not object to their being jailed. Tatsyana Tsishkevich, who was severely beaten during her arrest and presented her blood-stained jacket in court, received a 20-day sentence. A Minsk district court on January 12 sentenced Alyaksandr Makayeu, an advocate of entrepreneurs' rights, to 15 days in jail on charges of using foul language. The court in Barysau, Minsk Oblast, the same day reheard the case of Viktar Harbachou, who was recently cleared of charges, and fined him $350 for disorderly conduct. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/01/3-cee/cee-140108.asp