Belarusian Activist Detained Again After Serving Jail Term

Paval Vinahradau was released from prison in Minsk on May 4.

MINSK -- An opposition activist in Belarus has been detained by police just days after finishing a 12-day jail term.

Paval Vinahradau's wife said two police officers visited their apartment early on May 9.

Svyatlana Vinahradava said the police did not give any explanation or present an arrest warrant and demanded that her husband go with them.

Vinahradau was released from custody on May 4 after being sentenced to jail on April 23 for holding an illegal protest.

That day, Vinahradau unfolded a poster with a picture of jailed former presidential candidate Mikalay Statkevich and the banned Belarusian national flag in Minsk.

Statkevich is serving a six-year prison term for "organizing mass disturbances" following authoritarian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's reelection in December 2010.

With reporting by charter97.org