Belarusian Opposition Activists On Trial
Demonstrations against the internationally criticized presidential elections in March ended with hundreds of arrests (RFE/RL)
PRAGUE, July 28, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Four Belarusian opposition activists went on trial today in Minsk.
The trial is being held behind closed doors.
Ambassadors of several European Union countries, as well as opposition leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich arrived at the courtroom but were not allowed in.
The four were arrested in late February, in the run-up to the disputed March presidential election, in which President Alyaksandr Lukashenka was reelected.
Tsimafey Dranchuk, Mikalay Astreyka, Enira Branitskaya, and Alyaksandr Shalayka are accused of belonging to an unregistered organization "infringing upon the interests and rights of citizens."
The organization to which they belong, Partnerstva (Partnership), is an election observer group.