NAVAPOLATSAK, Belarus -- Another activist in Belarus has been fined for being photographed holding photos of a jailed human rights defender.
On January 29, a court in the northern town of Navapolatsak ordered Syarhey Malashenak to pay a fine of 2.5 million rubles ($290) for posting pictures on the Internet of him and a colleague holding photos of activist Ales Byalyatski.
The court deemed it an unsanctioned public gathering.
Malashenak's colleague, Yauhen Parchynski, who was also holding the Byalyatski photos, faced a trial last week.
He was ordered to pay a $50 fine.
Malashenak told RFE/RL that he and Parchynski plan to appeal.
He said the court violated their constitutional right to freedom of expression.
Byalyatski is currently in prison for tax evasion, a charge he has denied since his arrest in 2011.
On January 29, a court in the northern town of Navapolatsak ordered Syarhey Malashenak to pay a fine of 2.5 million rubles ($290) for posting pictures on the Internet of him and a colleague holding photos of activist Ales Byalyatski.
The court deemed it an unsanctioned public gathering.
Malashenak's colleague, Yauhen Parchynski, who was also holding the Byalyatski photos, faced a trial last week.
He was ordered to pay a $50 fine.
Malashenak told RFE/RL that he and Parchynski plan to appeal.
He said the court violated their constitutional right to freedom of expression.
Byalyatski is currently in prison for tax evasion, a charge he has denied since his arrest in 2011.
