Vitsebsk human rights activist P.Levinau is fined and sentenced to 10 days of detention

Railway District Court of Vitsebsk has returned a representative of the organization “Belarusian Helsinki Committee” Pavel Levinau guilty of hooliganism and disobedience to the police. He has been sentenced to 10 days of detention and fined for 20 base amounts (700 thousand Br) The hearing of the administrative case of P.Levinau was organized in two stages. The process started on March 28 was finished on April 23: the judge Alena Zhuk had to admit that police protocols contained mistakes and the documents were annulled. The process was resumed on May 22: Pershamaiski District department of the Interior drew up new protocols and Levinau’s case was sent to another judge.

P.Levinau was detained on March 27. He had tried to enter the flat of an independent journalist Vadzim Barshcheuski several times. A search of the flat was in process according to the order of Minsk Office of the Public Prosecutor and policemen did not let him in.

Levinau went on a hunger strike to express his protest against the unfair detention and accusation. It lasted from March 27 till April 10. He was wearing a T-shirt with the inscription “I’m not going to use bad language” during hearings.