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Prominent opposition activist in Vitsyebsk re-jailed after serving seven-day term

Syarhey Kavalenka, a prominent opposition activist resident in Vitsyebsk, was rearrested upon completion of his seven-day jail sentence on Friday and given a 15-day term.

As Mr. Kavalenka's wife, Alena, told the Belarus Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, police officers captured him five minutes after he had left jail. The man was driven to the Pershamayski district police department, charged with violating requirements for serving his suspended three-year prison sentence and put back into jail for 15 days.

The 35-year-old opposition activist was on hunger strike while in detention. It was not immediately known whether he had ended his protest.

Mr. Kavalenka was sentenced to seven days in jail on March 25 on charges of disorderly conduct and violation of regulations governing mass events.

He was arrested by police the previous day after he came to the building of a district administration with white-red-white flags and began chanting slogans.

Mr. Kavalenka stood near the building for about 20 minutes, waving the three 5x10-foot flags, and chanting "Glory to the Nation!" and "Death to Flunkies!"

A police vehicle eventually arrived and Mr. Kavalenka was driven to the Chyhunachny district police station.

"Kavalenka probably wanted to celebrate the 93rd anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic [March 25] by displaying Belarus' historically national flag, and suspected that he wouldn't be allowed to do that on March 25," his associate, Barys Khamayda, told BelaPAN.

In early January 2010, Mr. Kavalenka created a scandal by putting a white-red-white flag on top of Vitsyebsk's tallest Christmas tree. For that act, he was charged with “deliberate actions that grossly disturb the public order and show evident contempt of society” under Article 339 of the Criminal Code. On May 14, 2010, he was given a suspended three-year prison sentence with probation.