English

Opposition activist Vinyarski sentenced to 15 days in jail for demonstrating against Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine

Maksim Vinyarski, a member of an opposition group called European Belarus, was sentenced Thursday to 15 days in jail for demonstrating against Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine.

On Wednesday afternoon, the 32-year-old Vinyarski posted himself in front of the Russian embassy with a sign saying, “Invaders - get out of Ukraine!” A Belarusian police officer on guard outside the embassy took the sign away from the protester and called other officers, who drove Mr. Vinyarski to the Tsentralny district police station.

Judge Viktoryya Shabunya of the Tsentralny District Court in Minsk found Mr. Vinyarski guilty of violating regulations governing “mass events” under Article 23.34 of the Civil Offenses Code, reported the Vyasna Human Rights Center.

On February 24, Mr. Vinyarski was twice arrested by riot police in Moscow while he was taking part in protests demanding the release of eight suspects in the so-called Bolotnaya case.

In December 2013, Mr. Vinyarski was sentenced in Minsk to 15 days in jail for taking part in an unsanctioned demonstration staged in front of the Ukrainian embassy in support of Ukraine's pro-European protesters. //BelaPAN