Former Political Prisoner Haidukou Fined For Solidarity With Abducted Politicians

On November 30 in Navapolatsk Andrei Haidukou stood trial for the rally in memory of the abducted politicians on November 16th.

udge Alena Vertashonak conducted the trial. A representative of Navapolatsk city executive committee Uladzimir Bialiaeu and a policeman Aliaksandr Baretkin gave evidence as witnesses, the press service of the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party informs.

The court found the activist guilty and fined him 45 basic units (Br8.100.000).

Local democracy activists came to support Andrei with a poster “Andrei Haidukou had not violated the law. What is he being tried for?” The activist himself is going to appeal against the decision, he has not pleaded guilty.

“Everything was in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, I have not violated anything. The court was prejudiced against me, the conviction and such a heavy fine are in no way motivated,” – Andrei said.

We remind that on November 16 Andrei Haidukou put up portraits of Yury Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar and Anatoly Krasouski, Zmitser Zavadski in the street, and also handed out more than 100 leaflets quoting Mikalai Statkevich’s appeal to arrive on November 24 to a rally in Minsk in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for freedom of Belarus.

A report was drawn up against the activist under article 23.34 part 3 of the Administrative Code (violation of the order of organizing or holding mass events).

Andrei Haidukou is a former political prisoner who has spent six years in prison (from November 2012 to May 2014). According to the investigation, he was detained “in the making a dead drop with data of political and economic nature, which may be of interest to foreign secret services”, and initially was charged under article 356 of the Criminal Code (treason to the state through intelligence activities), later this charge was changed. On July 1, 2013 the Vitsebsk regional court found Haidukou guilty under Article 14 part 1 and Article 356 of the Criminal Code (an attempt to establish cooperation with special services, security or intelligence agencies of a foreign country) and sentenced him to a year and a half of imprisonment. The trial took place behind the closed doors.