Human Rights Defender Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk Went On Hunger Strike To Protest

He has been illegally arrested for 15 days.

Viasna human rights defender Aliaksandr Vaitseshyk, who was arrested for 15 days, went on a hunger strike, Euroradio reports.

Vaitseshyk was detained in the court of Baranavichy district and the town of Baranavichy on April 14, when he was monitoring the trial, the website of Viasna reports. The human rights activist was accused of photographing the defendant. Vaitseshyk himself said that he had only recorded the process on a tape recorder, which he had the right to do.

Judge Mikalai Kmita didn't believe the words of the human rights defender. Vaitseshyk was asked to show his phone, but he didn't agree. Then the cell phone was taken away from him and he was detained.

On April 15 he was sentenced under Article 24.1 of the Administrative Code (contempt of court). He was found guilty of disobeying the order of the chairman, disorderly conduct during the court sitting and other actions that showed evident disrespect to the court.

To protest against his unlawful detention and unjust arrest, Vaitseshyk went on a hunger strike.