The court in Białystok effectively acquitted a group of ecological activists who took part in the protest against logging in the ancient Białowieża forest organized in June 2017. The police had accused the protesters of disturbing peace and causing public disorder.
A few months ago, a local court in Hajnówka which was the court of first instance, found the accused guilty but refrained from setting punishment. Both sides appealed against the ruling. The police demanded imposing fines and the defence wanted acquittal.
The mentioned protest took place on 8 June 2017 in Czerlonka Leśna (Hajnówka county) and was one the first organized in Białoweża Forest by Greenpeace and the „Wild Poland” foundation.
When the protesters started to block the harvesters (heavy machines used for logging), forest guards appeared and called for police assistance. Police officers used force against some of the people who were blocking the machines. A dozen or so were asked to show their ID cards.
Ultimately, in accordance to the Offence Code, the police submitted a motion to penalize seven people and accused them of disturbing peace and public order by blocking the forestry machines and preventing the employees to perform the logging.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: tvn24