Rights defenders announce Kasinerau political prisoner

Belarusian rights defenders have announced Vyachaslau Kasinerau a political prisoner. He was serving a 15-day administrative arrest for taking part in an unauthorized rallyin February 2017 when it turned out that a criminal case had been started against the activist. He organized a performance in Minsk on March 12 – Kasinerau put a loop on the neck of the statute of a Russian Empire policeman in protest against “the lack of restraint for the police and the persecution of peaceful protesters”.

Nine civil organizations (most of them are rights defenders) have prepared a joint statement. According to them, Kasineru’s actions cannot be called a crime, he just expressed his opinion. Calling Kasunerau’s actions hooliganism is an excessive measure aimed at his isolation, they believe.

“In connection with Kasunerau’s imprisonment on such terms, we consider him a political prisoner and demand that the Belarusian authorities stopped his persecution and released him without delay,” the rights defenders announced in their statement.