Opposition activist seeks to sue Vitsebsk mayor

Syarhei Kavalenka, who put a national white-red-white flag ontop of a Christmas tree on the central square of Vitsebsk on January 7, reckons that his action was described by the local media as hooliganism on Mayor Viktar Nikalaikin's orders. According to the Belarusian service of  Radio Liberty, the Mayor of Vitsebsk gathered local journalists for a meeting. Kavalenka, an activist with the local branch of the Conservative Christian Party - Belarusian Popular Front, recalls that shortly after that meeting, three local newspapers ran articles whih degraded his honor and dignity.

The activist filed lawsuit with a district court in Vitsebsk, seeking compensation for moral damages from editor Nina Tulinava and journalist Natalia Vasilyeva from Vitsbuchy newspaper.