Belarusians fined for attempt to honor man who died in jail
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 16 September 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarusians fined for attempt to honor man who died in jail, 16 September 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/525e3f8bd.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 16, 2013
By RFE/RL's Belarus Service
A mourner in Minsk holds a photograph of Ihar Ptsichkin, who died in prison under mysterious circumstances.
MINSK – Four activists in Belarus have been fined 500,000 rubles ($42) for attempting to commemorate the life of a young man who died in prison under uncertain circumstances.
A court in Minsk on September 16 found the four activists guilty of organizing an unsanctioned public gathering.
The men were detained on September 14 in front of a detention center in Minsk, where they had intended to hold a memorial service for Ihar Ptsichkin, who died in the center.
Prsichkin's sister, Iryna Miranovich, was also arrested during the attempt to commemorate Ptsichkin.
The court on September 16 warned her of possible consequences if she tries to organize an unsanctioned public event in the future.
Ptsichkin died in August while serving a three-month sentence for driving without a licence.
Relatives reject official statements saying Ptsichkin died of heart failure.
They say his body bore traces of beating.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
