Belarusian activists jailed after marking Chornobyl disaster
A court in Minsk has sentenced eight opposition activists to prison terms ranging from 15 to 25 days after they took part in an event marking the anniversary of the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear disaster.
The activists were arrested on April 26 after commemorating victims of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster.
The court on April 28 found the activists guilty of "hooliganism" and resisting police.
One of the sentenced activists, Yuriy Rubtsou, announced a hunger strike to protest his 25-day sentence.
The commemorative event, known as the "Chornobyl Path" march, was allowed by city officials in Minsk.
The march has been held in the Belarusian capital since 1988 to commemorate the Chornobyl disaster in neighboring Ukraine, which also contaminated large swaths of territory in Belarus.
The activists were arrested on April 26 after commemorating victims of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster.
The court on April 28 found the activists guilty of "hooliganism" and resisting police.
One of the sentenced activists, Yuriy Rubtsou, announced a hunger strike to protest his 25-day sentence.
The commemorative event, known as the "Chornobyl Path" march, was allowed by city officials in Minsk.
The march has been held in the Belarusian capital since 1988 to commemorate the Chornobyl disaster in neighboring Ukraine, which also contaminated large swaths of territory in Belarus.