Court rules to arrest Ukrainian woman for 24 hours for participation in opposition rally in Minsk
The Court of the Soviet district of Minsk has ruled to arrest for twenty four hours a citizen of Ukraine, who took part in the Freedom Day rallies of the Belarusian opposition in Minsk on March 24.
Ukrainian citizen Yulia Hryschuk was sentenced to one day of arrest, which she has already served.
Hryschuk was arrested in Minsk last Sunday after the rallies of the Belarusian opposition. She was accused of violating public order.
A total of eight protesters were detained last Sunday in Minsk, including two more Ukrainian citizens, one of them being a teenager, Nazar Zelynovsky.
On Monday, the same court found Zelynovsky guilty of disobeying police officers and issued him a warning. The teenager will be held in the inspection for juvenile cases until his father comes from Ukraine to take him.
The court also ordered the arrest of another Ukrainian citizen for five days and penalties to the remaining detainees, who are citizens of Belarus.
According to the Interior Ministry of Belarus, some 500 people took part in the opposition rally marking the 95th anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic on March 24.
"The event was held in accordance with the approved format. The number of participants exceeded 500," the ministry said.
"Law enforcement agencies maintained public order and prevented crimes and offenses. No detentions have been registered during the march and the rally," the ministry said.
However, human rights activists reported eight arrests after the rally.