Belarusian Activists Fined

Posted photo of a protest

To get arrested at a demonstration, you normally have to be there. Not, however, in Belarus. 

A court in the western city of Hrodno this week convicted three human rights activists -- Uladzimer Khilmanovich, Viktar Sazonau, and Raman Yurhel -- for participating in an unauthorized demonstration on December 10 on International Human Rights Day. They were each fined 1.5 million rubles ($173).

But the men weren't arrested at the time of their demonstration, but after a photo of them protesting was published online. In the photo, they are holding a portrait of Ales Byalyatski, a human rights leader who in 2011 was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison on charges of tax evasion. His supporters say those charges are politically motivated.