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United Civic Party leader appeals fine to Minsk City Court

Anatol Lyabedzka, leader of the United Civic Party (UCP), on Wednesday filed an appeal with the Minsk City Court against a fine imposed on him by a district court.

On January 15, a judge of the Savetski District Court imposed the fine of 300,000 rubels ($35) on Mr. Lyabedzka for distributing flyers on December 19, 2012, the second anniversary of the violent dispersal of a post-election protest.

Mr. Lyabedzka, who did not attend the trial, was found guilty of staging an unsanctioned demonstration.

The opposition politician learned of the trial and sentence after receiving a letter from the court on January 22.

In his appeal, Mr. Lyabedzka says that while considering the case the court should have been guided by the constitution's Article 23, which guarantees the right to receive and distribute information. According to Mr. Lyabedzka, restricting the right is in violation of the constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The politician asks the city court to overturn the sentence and drop the case. //BelaPAN