Participants Of Action Near Defense Ministry Fined

The activists ptotested against hazing in the Belarusian army.

The participants of the street aqction near the Ministry of Defense in Minsk have been fined. Dzianis Mandzik (Chairman of the BPF Youth) and Hanna Smilevich (ex-Chair of the organization) protested against hazing in the Belarusian army on Tuesday. The action took place in the framework of the recently announced new campaign “Ticket Ad Patres”. It was disrupted by the riot police several seconds after it had started. Arsen Dziadok was arrested together with Mandzik and Smilevich, but the police released him on the same day because of his minor age.

On Wednesday, Dzianis Mandzik and Hanna Smilevich were brought to the court from the detention facility in handcuffs. Dzianis Mandzik was fined for BYN 735 for the participation in a non-sanctioned event, Hanna Smilevich was fined for BYN 612,5 for the same, human rights defenders report.