Opposition activist in Hrodna fined for staging concert of a Polish band

Yury Istomin, the head of the United Civic Party's branch in Hrodna, has received a fine of Br1,050,000 ($500) for organizing a concert for the Polish band Transkapela. Istomin was summoned to the local regional office of the Emergencies Ministry and interrogated over the concert that took place on May 13 in the party's headquarters in Hrodna. He was eventually fined for "violating fire safety rules". Fire-fighters would refer to a document from the police department.

Yury Istomin believes the authorities are trying to make "a punitive body" out of the Emergencies Ministry.

The concert of Transkapela was organized with the support from the Polish Consulate in Hrodna. The Polish Consul General was present at the event.