Belarus: Arrested opposition figures tried behind closed doors

The court hearings against opposition figures arrested during the protests following the Presidential elections during the night into Monday 20 December are going on behind closed doors.

A spokesperson for the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Garry Pogonyailo, told RIA Novosti that lawyers, human rights defenders and relatives are not being admitted into the courtroom.  

He says that most are being jailed for up to 15 days (administrative arrest) or being fined about 350 USD.

Garry Pogonyailo also informed that the fact of several of those detained is still unknown, including that of the Head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Oleg Gulak.

More than 600 people were arrested during the protests.