Central district court of Minsk punishes participants of entrepreneurs protests with fines

Judge Mikhail Khoma didn’t put the activist Leanid Kulakou behind bars, but fined him 10.5 mln due to “the participation in a peaceful demonstration”.

Yesterday the Central district court of Minsk considered 17 administrative cases opened against the participants in unsanctioned protest rallies, which were held by Belarusian entrepreneurs in February and March.

Thus, judge Viktoriya Shabunya has already imposed Br 10.5 mln fine on former political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich; the case of poet and politician Uladzimir Niakliaeu was sent for revision.

Film editor Volha Nikalaychyk and civil activist Maxim Vinyarski didn’t come to court and were fined 10.5 mln.

The entrepreneur and former political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich was fined 4.2 mln; the former entrepreneurs and retiree Aliaksandr Abramovich – 2.1 mln; former militia officer Mikalai Kazlou – 10.5 mln; the leader of the UCP party Anatoly Liabedzka – 10.5 mln. There are many others who where fined different sums of money for the participation in the rally.

Let us recall that on February 28, Belarusian businessmen openly protested in favor of the abolition of the Decree 222, which limited their ability to trade non-certified, but cheap goods from the Russian wholesale depots.