Belarus: Activist fined over flag

A court in the Belarusian city of Vitebsk has fined an opposition activist for "unsanctioned public action"

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

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A court in the Belarusian city of Vitebsk has fined an opposition activist for "unsanctioned public action."

Syarhey Kavalenka of the Conservative Christian Party of Belarus Popular Front (KHP-BNF) was fined about $376.

He was arrested on September 14 for placing Belarus's old national white-and-red flag on Vitsebsk's Victory Square.

The Belarusian government does not recognize the old national flag, which was used in 1918 during the short-lived Belarusian People's Republic.

Currently the white-and-red flag, as a symbol of the first occurrence of Belarusian independence, is used by the opposition in protests against the government.

Copyright (c) RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

Filed under geopolitics, free speech, democracy, belarus

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