Singer Arrested In Minsk For Performing Okean Elzy's Song Still Not Free After 15 Days

• 22.08.2022, 16:42

Apparently, Meriem Herasimenka had a second trial.

Singer Meriem Herasimenka, who was detained in Minsk after performing at the Banki-Butylki bar, was not released after 15 days of arrest. Apparently, she had another trial, according to zerkalo.io.

On August 6, the Lists of Detainees Telegram channel published information that Meriem Herasimenka was sentenced to 15 days. The exact date of the trial was not specified. They indicated that the court hearing took place presumably from 1 to 5 August. The accusatory article for the singer was not indicated.

According to this, she was supposed to be released last week. However, according to one of her friends, Meriem is not at home yet.

Journalists called as ordinary citizens to the Registry of the Central District Court. he Registry answered that "the last meeting she had was on 10 August". The young woman was sentenced to 15 days.

— So, was this her second trial?

— It means that there was one more because we have a date of issue - 10.08.

— Does it mean the second trial?

— Correct.

According to the Registry, the singer was tried under Article 24.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences (“Violating the procedure for organising or holding mass events”).

Recall that on August 3, singer Meriem Herasimenka gave a street concert on the terrace of the Banki-Butylki bar on Zybitskaia Street in Minsk. Among the songs that she performed were the songs by the Ukrainian band, Okean Elzy. In particular, the song "Obiymy" (The Hugs). There were a lot of spectators at the concert. They posted videos on social media, often with yellow and blue stickers and other signs of support for Ukraine.

After that, sanitary inspectors and officers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations came to the bar. Later it became known that the owner of the bar, Andrei Zhuk, was detained for 30 days, and Meriem Herasimenka for 15.