Opposition activist Uladzimir Katsora went on dry hunger strike n prison

• 25.06.2009, 14:02

On June 25, the judge of the Tsentralny district court of Homel found guilty five participants of a peaceful action of solidarity with kidnapped general Yury Zakharanka.

Opposition activists Pyotr Kuznyatsou, Vasiky Palyakou, Anatol Paplauny and a namesake of kidnapped former interior minister Yury Zakharanka were fined 700,000 Belarusian rubles, Radio Svaboda reports.

Uladzimir Katsora, regional coordinator of the “For Freedom” movement was arrested for three days. Protesting, the politician declared a dry hunger strike in the courtroom.

Uladzimir Katsora and other activists made a motion to impeach judge Maryna Domnenka. The regional Council of the United Democratic Forces placed her on he “black list” of the officials involved in the persecution of Homel democratic activists.

The judge denied the motions to impeach, summon witnesses, and a demand of one of the activists to conduct a trial in Belarusian. The activists refused to give any evidence in response.

The trial ended under shouting of the people present “Shame!”

It should be noticed that the decision of the Tsentralny district court of Homel contradicts the regulation of the Supreme Court. The activists were convicted for participation in a peaceful action – standing in a human chain with portraits of forcefully disappeared general Yury Zakharanka. According to the regulation of the Supreme Court, a person standing with a portrait is not a participant of a mass event.

However, the court brought the activists to administrative responsibility for taking part in the unauthorized rally.