Belarus: Basketball star Leuchanka released after 15 days in jail, fined again

Yelena Lecuhanka with her parents after her release on 15 October / Euroradio
Yelena Lecuhanka with her parents after her release on 15 October / Euroradio

Family members, friends and dozens of supporters on 15 October came to the detention center in Akrestsina Street in Minsk in order to welcome Belarusian basketball star Yelena Leuchanka. But police officers in masks secretly drove the athlete to the entrance of her house to disrupt the welcome. All of those who came to meet Leuchanka found out about it when Yelena called her parents from a neighbor's phone.

15 October was the last day of Yelena Leuchanka's 15-day administrative arrest.  But she was again tried via a video call and awarded a fine of 810 BYN ($312) for violating the law on mass assemblies. During the trial, Yelena talked about the terrible conditions for arrestees in the detention center.

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