The trial of participants of “Students march”: a student fined 4.5 million Belarusan rubles

photo by RFE/RL

Maskousky District Court punished the social activist Pavel Siarhei for participating in a peaceful protest against the introduction of student fees for exam and test retakes.

The trial of Pavel Siarhei began on December 22 but the judge adjourned the case until the following day to find Pavel guilty of violating Part 1 of Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (participation in an unauthorized mass event) and appoint a fine of 25 basic units. The young man promised to appeal the decision at a higher court, Belsat informs.

Paval Siarhei is not the only one persecuted for the students’ rally. According to the HRC “Viasna”, protocols for administrative violations were also filed against Yauhen Amelkau and Hleb Vaikul, who was summoned to the commission of the dean’s office the next day.

As the “EuroBelarus” Information Service has already informed, on December 2, a student event called "March of love and solidarity" was held in the center of Minsk. It had been announced in the social networks, but was not permitted by the local authorities. Students opposed the introduction of payment for exam retakes.