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Former presidential candidate appeals fine imposed for commemorating 19th century anti-Russian insurgents

Ryhor Kastusyow, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front, has filed an appeal against a fine that was imposed on him for participating in a ceremony in Svislach, Hrodna region, on October 26, 2014 to commemorate 19th-century anti-Russian insurgents.

In his appeal, the former presidential candidate writes that the Shklow District Court had not received his case file until November 13, despite the fact that his charge sheet was drawn up on November 1 and the police had five days to send it to court.

Mr. Kastusyow also points out that a police video of the commemorative ceremony contained no images of him or a sound track.

On December 23, a judge of the Shklow District Court sentenced Mr. Kastusyow to a fine of 3,750,000 rubels ($343 at the official exchange rate), finding him guilty of participating in an unsanctioned “mass event.”

Mr. Kastusyow and a group of other opposition activists held the ceremony after the funeral of their associate Viktar Dzyasyatsik.

After paying last respects to Mr. Dzyasyatsik, they laid flowers at the nearby grave of Viktar Kalinowski, who played an important role in the 1863-64 anti-Russian uprising in Belarus, Lithuania and Poland, and then made their way to the center of Svislach to hold a flower-laying ceremony near Belarus’ only monument to his brother, Kastus Kalinowski, one of the leaders of the revolt.

The Kalinowski brothers studied at a school in Svislach, which currently has 9,000 residents.

The opposition activists were charged with acting in violation of regulations governing “mass events” over the commemorative ceremony.

At least eight people have already been brought to trial and sentenced to fines in connection with the ceremony. // BelaPAN