Dzmitry Uss threatened for call for sanctions

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Belarus has given an “explanatory talk” with the former presidential candidate Dzmitry Uss.

“The talk” was carried out in connection with his address to Catherine Ashton to impose economic sanctions against Lukashenka’s purses.

The General Prosecutor’s Office has warned the politician that in case he continues such calls, Article 361 of the Criminal Code – calls for actions aimed against foreign security of Belarus, its sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and defensive potential, can be applied.

“A talk was given to me, I was asked whether I would call for sanctions in the future. If the political prisoners are not released, the electoral system not changed, if the Belarusian opposition and public leaders are not given access to state-run mass media, I am going to continue calling for economic sanctions against court oligarchs who control oil business of the country. It makes 44% of the budget of Belarus! And this business is controlled by Lukashenka personally and by his court oligarchs. If the regime would not choose the path of liberalization, political and economic one, I will call upon economic sanctions against court businessmen,” Dzmitry Uss stressed to Belarusian Partizan.

Notably, the General Prosecutor’s Office representatives have not read the address of Dzmitry Uss to Catherine Ashton in full:

“The KGB had sent them one quote taken out of the context. And they threatened me with a criminal case for this one quote. I was showed Article 361 of the Criminal Code, I was told that a criminal case can be opened against me in case I am going to continue calls for economic sanctions,” Dzmitry Uss underlined.

Article 361 of the Criminal Code – call for actions aimed against external security of Belarus, its sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and defensive potential.

1. Public calls for seizure of the state power, or forcible change of the constitutional order of Belarus, or treason to the state, or committing a terrorist act or subversive action, or other actions against external security of Belarus, its sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and defensive potential, or dissemination of materials containing such calls, are punished by an arrest for up to 6 months, or deprivation of freedom for up to 3 years.

2. Called addressed to a foreign state, a foreign or international organization to the detriment of external security of Belarus, its sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and defensive potential, or dissemination of materials containing such calls, in absence of elements of graver crimes, are punished by an arrest for up to 6 months, or deprivation of freedom for up to 3 years.

3. Actions which fall under the parts 1 and 2 of this Article, committed with the help of mass media, are punished by deprivation of freedom from 2 to 5 years.