Kavalenka's trial starts - no journalists admitted

According to the information provided by "Nasha Niva", Syarhej Kavalenka's wife Alena came to the court with their 7-months-old daughter in her arms. She took out a white-red-white flag and a poster saying "Freedom to Belarus! Freedom to Kavalenka!". The policemen couldn't take her out of the court hall - the people defended her. Syarhej Kavalenka's mother Lidziya started screaming "Murderers!". In the end, the judge left and the policemen urged the people to leave as well. It was announced that the trial will start in another hall of the Pershamayski district court of Vitsebsk.

According to Radio Liberty, the trial against Kavalenka has been resumed but the journalists and the activist's mother have not been admitted.

Let us remind you, Syarhej Kavalenka is accused in numerous violations of the regime of serving the so-called "forcible hard labour at home", which he was sentenced to for hoisting a white-red-white flag on the biggest Christmas tree in Vitsebsk 2 years ago. He has been in custody in the pre-trial detention center in Vitsebsk since December. Kavalenka faces up to 3 years of imprisonment.