A criminal case against opposition activist Alyaksandr Barazenka has been sent to the court of the Tsentralny district in Minsk, lawyer Pavel Sapelka told Euroradio. The youth is expected to stand trial over his role in a street protest early this year. He failed to appear in court in May when other protesters were tried and given suspended sentences or fines.   

Barazenka was arrested in late October and has been held in custody pending trial.

The judge has two weeks to set the date. It will begin within a month," Sapelka said. He added that the youth is unlikely to be acquitted of participation in an unauthorized protest.

“I think he will be given roughly the same sentence as the others, either a fine or a suspended term. Since Barazenka is a student it would be desirable that he continue studies. I think he will be given a fine," the lawyer noted.

 Barazenka was attending lectures in Wroclaw University when he was supposed to be tried. He reported for questioning on October 27 and was immediately arrested.