Grey Cat Sentenced To Another 15 Days Of Arrest For Protecting Independence

Opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich has also been fined.

On January 27, trials of protesters in support of the independence of Belarus against the deep integration with Russia were held in Minsk courts, the human rights center Viasna reports.

European Belarus activist Dzmitry Kazlou (blogger Grey Cat) was sentenced by Judge Tatsiana Shotsik to another 15 days' arrest for the rally in Minsk on December 8 under Part 3 Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code. All the previous Kazlou's trials for December rallies ended in the same way: 7 times to 15 days of arrest, 120 days in total.

Kazlou did not come to the hearing himself, his interests were represented by an attorney. She asked for the judge's recusal, which was not satisfied.

Police officers Andrei Tsikhanau and Dzmitry Karaneuski were witnesses. Tsikhanau refused to tell how he identified Kazlou, as the report says that he found out the person later, and in court he said that he recognized the blogger immediately. He replied "I can't remember" to a lot of questions. Karaneuski said in court that he knew Grey Cat as a blogger, and later identified him as Kazlou. None of the policemen could name the actions of the protesters, which would violate public order, except for the fact that they were just there.

The results of other courts on January 27:

Statkevich - a fine of Br1,350, a second court hearing for participating in the rally on December 20, Judge Aliaksei Kisliak, the Leninski district court.

Andrei Kudzik - a fine of Br1080 for the rally on December 8 in Minsk, Judge Aliaksei Kisliak.

Dziana Seradziuk - a fine of Br1,350 for participating in the rally on December 20 in Minsk, Judge Maksim Trusevich, the Pershamaiski district court.

Liavon Barshcheuski - a fine of Br810, Judge Ivan Kastsian, the Tsentralny district court.

Piotr Sadouski - a fine of Br810 for the rally on December 7 in Minsk, Judge Tatsiana Akavitaya, the Tsentralny district court.