MINSK -- A court in Belarus has sentenced an opposition activist to five days in jail for allegedly using vulgar words while being drunk in a public place.
Illya Dabratvor pleaded not guilty at his trial in Minsk on September 2.
He was arrested on August 30 after he carried Belarus's historic national flag in the Minsk metro.
The flag has been banned by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Dabratvor said his action was aimed at demonstrating solidarity with the chairman of the unregistered Young Front political movement in Belarus, Zmitser Dashkevich, who was released from prison last week after serving almost three years in jail.
Dabratvor told RFE/RL that he also wanted to protest against Lukashenka, whose 59th birthday was marked on the same day he was arrested.
Illya Dabratvor pleaded not guilty at his trial in Minsk on September 2.
He was arrested on August 30 after he carried Belarus's historic national flag in the Minsk metro.
The flag has been banned by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Dabratvor said his action was aimed at demonstrating solidarity with the chairman of the unregistered Young Front political movement in Belarus, Zmitser Dashkevich, who was released from prison last week after serving almost three years in jail.
Dabratvor told RFE/RL that he also wanted to protest against Lukashenka, whose 59th birthday was marked on the same day he was arrested.
