On March 21, the Oktyabrsky District Court examined administrative cases against two participants of a protest rally held in Viciebsk on February 26. The result of consideration: 50 base units (1150 rubles) of fine Tatiana Severinets, and 30 base (690 rubles) – Kirill Tatarevich.

Both were punished for violating Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (violation of the procedure for organizing or holding mass events): Kirill Tatarevich – according to part 1 of this article, Tatiana Severinets – part 3 (this part applies to those who were punished for the same year offense).

The basis for bringing to responsibility of both served only a video, it is unknown who was filmed, witnesses to the courts were not called. And both were given the maximum possible monetary penalties provided for by the relevant parts of Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code.

The fact that Judge Alesya Zharikova fined the coordinator for the creation of the "Belarusian Christian Democracy" party Tatiana Severinets with a large fine did not cause much surprise. Still, Mrs. Tatyana is a well-known opposition politician in the city, and indeed she was active in the action of the "no– parasites": she spoke and read out articles of the Constitution that the authorities, according to her, do not fulfill. She herself was preparing for an even more severe punishment – she brought with her in court a package with things and products in the event of administrative arrest.

But for which Judge Vladimir Tsarikov so severely punished Kirill Tatarevich – civil activists, human rights activists and journalists who came to the courts, did not understand: the 19-year-old Viciebsk citizen participated in the protest, as he says, for the first time in his life, was an ordinary participant of this action , Does not belong to any of the opposition structures.

At the end of the trial, both Kirill Tatarevich and Tatyana Severinets announced that they intend to appeal the court's orders.

Recall, on February 26 in Viciebsk was held the so-called "March of the non-parasites" – spontaneous rallies on Victory Square and Lenin Square and street procession along Lenin Street. In the protest action took part, according to various estimates, from one and a half to three thousand people. Participants of the action demanded the repeal of Decree No. 3 on "parasites", according to which citizens who do not have official work and who are not registered at the employment center are required to pay a special tax.

The action was held peacefully on February 26, law enforcement officials did not intervene, but after it was finished, five people were detained and made reports on them on an administrative offense. Two of the detainees were now brought to administrative responsibility. Two more – schoolchildren: they are probably involved in the commission on the affairs of minors. The fate of another, nonresident, is still unknown.

Kastus Dzvinski