Accessibility links

Breaking News

Belarusian Court Sentences Young Activists


The group was detained while protesting the trial of a fellow activist (RFE/RL) September 5, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- A court in Belarus has sentenced two activists from the Youth Front (Malady Front) opposition movement to seven days in prison.

RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports that the activists, a man and a woman, were detained, with other activists, by special police forces while rallying outside a courthouse on September 4.

Other activists on trial in Salihorsk received fines of up to 150,000 Belarusian rubles ($70).

The activists were protesting the trial of a fellow Youth Front member, 16-year-old Ivan Shyla.

Shyla was in court on September 4 on charges of acting on behalf of an unregistered organization. As a minor, he faced a maximum sentence of six months in prison, but was released with a warning.

More than 50 opposition and human-rights campaigners attended the start of Shyla's trial, including representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, the Vyasna (Spring) human-rights group, and the United Civic Party.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG