Pavel Sapelka: Someone wants to concentrate judicial system in hands of single person

The authorities seem to have spare money to hold a “referendum”.

Former lawyer and human rights defender Pavel Sapelka spoke to charter97.org about the reform of the judicial system by merging general jurisdiction courts and economic courts.

“It won't affect anything if it is a formal merger. But if the two systems really merge, it will be very difficult and painful, because courts of general jurisdiction and economic courts are completely different. Judges usually don't go from one system to the other,” the lawyer said.

The human rights defender notes that the merger can be organised only through a “referendum” on the initiative of Lukashenka, but everyone knows how it is usually conducted.

“I think the systems of general jurisdiction courts and economic courts worked fine. I have never had problems that couldn't be solved because we have two systems of courts. Yes, there were some questions about jurisdiction, but they were solved by joint rulings of plenary sessions. The authorities seem to have have spare money to hold a referendum,” Pavel Sapelka said.

The expert thinks that the aim of the reform is to concentrate the judicial branch in the hands of a single person.

“We will have one Big Brother instead of two ones. Historically, this system has never been single in Belarus. As for the proposal to close military courts, I agree with it, because there's no difference between military courts and civil courts, but we cannot say the same about economic courts and general jurisdiction courts,” the lawyer said.

The concept of reforming the judicial system and judicial bodies providing for the merger of general jurisdiction and economic courts was approved at a meeting with Lukashenka on November 19. The reform supposes changes in the country's Constitution. The dictators ordered to prepare the necessary documents within 10 days.