Alyaksandr Mekh: “This trial is example of cynicism and treachery of the authorities”
8- 22.08.2008, 14:57
Judge of the Kobryn district Alyaksandr Babaskin passed a decision today to dismiss all counts of the suit filed by Alyaksandr Mekh, member of the Belarusian Popular front party.
The informer demanded to allow him to return to his work for Beltransgaz, compensate for material and moral damage. Alyaksandr Mekh was disappointed with the result:
“I didn’t expect this decision. We presented good proofs to the court that show this case is fabricated. It is an example of fraud, cynicism and treachery of the current Belarusian authorities,” the politician told to Radio Svaboda.
The trial in Kobryn lasted for three days. Most leaders of the BPF party, Brest region opposition activists and journalists attended the trial.
Uladzimer Malei, lawyer of the trade union of the radio electronics workers, civil defender of Alyaksandr Mekh, says the decision of the Kobryn district court will be appealed against:
“we asked for them to give us reasons of the judgement. We are going to file a cassation appeal. When I spoke at the trial, I said the political situation in Belarus was changing, all political prisoners had been released. I asked,”Don’t make a mistake!” But the judge didn’t listen to me.”
Engineer Alyaksandr Mekh was dismissed from Beltransgaz Kobryn department of gas transition pipeline this June. Head of the Kobryn department Uladzimer Halashka and head of the Kobryn KGB office Andre Basko had a 16-minute preventive conversation with Mekh. They tried to make him give his intention to run in the election and threatened to fire him in other case. They said he wouldn’t find job in Belarus, reminded him he had a family – wife and small children. Alyaksandr Mekh made a Dictaphone record of his conversation with his chief and the KGB officer. This conversation was transmitted over Radio Svaboda and published in “Narodnaya Volya” newspaper.
Alyaksandr Mekh has two university diplomas. He worked as an engineer for Beltransgaz for more than 14 years and was fired in June after he had decided to run in the parliamentary election. Alyaksandr Mekh contest for a seat in the parliament in Kobryn election district #12.
