Mikalai Statkevich sentenced to 15 days in jail

Minsk’s Central District Court on Tuesday sentenced prominent opposition activist Mikalai Statkevich to 15 days of arrest for making calls to take part in an unauthorized rally.

Last week, Mr Statkevich called on people to gather on 7 April near the Holy Spirit Cathedral in central Minsk and hold a prayer for the return of the demolished crosses in Kurapaty, a people’s memorial to the victims of Stalin-era mass executions. The politician was detained when he was walking out of his house in order to proceed to the protest.

Nearly 150 people took part in the prayer on 7 April.

According to Viasna human rights center, European Belarus’ activist Maksim Viniarski was sentenced by the Maskouski District Court to 13 days of arrest on the same charges.