Three people were tried for the performance. Each must pay a fine of around $173
Source: svaboda.org
On December 12, Minsk’s Central District Court tried two participants of the performance Deconstruction of a Policeman and found them guilty of violating rules of holding a mass event (part 1 of article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Another BFT’s student was fined the same sum the previous day.
Students of Belarus Free Theatre’s Fortinbras theatre laboratory were detained on December 11 after a “conversation” with an investigator. They spent the night at a temporary detention centre.
Judge Viktoria Shabunia classified the artistic performance at a shopping mall as a “mass event” and said the participants should have obtained permission from the municipal authorities. The students insisted it was a creative homework assignment and they had no intention of holding a mass event.
The judge did not explain why the national legislation is not consistent with international human rights standards and the country’s Constitution.
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