Dzmitry Kazlou To Judge: Why Can't We Gather At Square In Free Country?

The European Belarus activist has brought the judge to a stand.

Vorsha court judge Katsiaryna Mazheika found blogger and activist of the European Belarus civil campaign Dzmitry Kazlou guilty of "calling for participation in an unsanctioned mass event" in Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk on November 15. And fined him Br510 (20 basic units), Radio Svaboda reports.

Before the trial, the blogger had spent more than two days in the Vorsha detention center. He found himself there on November 30, after being summoned to the Vorsha District Police Department.

"Why can't we gather at Kastrychnitskaya Square in a free country?"

Dzmitry admitted in court that he had recorded and posted a video on Youtube asking people to come to Kastrychnitskaya Square for a picket of European Belarus candidates for the "deputies of the house of representatives" in order "to talk to them about the situation in the country". According to him, up to 5 thousand people could have watched this video.

"Why can't we gather at Kastrychnitskaya Square in a free country? - Dzmitry answered the judge's question whether he knew that the event had not been sanctioned by the Minsk authorities.

The judge passed the sentence without leaving the courtroom. The consideration of the case lasted half an hour.

After the trial, Kazlou said he had expected a fine, but had not ruled out the possibility of an administrative arrest.

The blogger called the two days in the isolation ward "a good experience". He said he met interesting people there and listened to interesting stories. Dzmitry Kazlou called the pre-trial detention an attempt to put pressure on him.