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In Biarozauka Authorities In Panic Over Protest Against Glass Wool

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In Biarozauka Authorities In Panic Over Protest Against Glass Wool

A public activist Vitold Ashurak was fined for a picket against deterioration of the ecological situation in Biarozauka.

An activist from Biarozauka Vitold Ashurak, who had staged an unsanctioned picket against environmental degradation in his town, was fined 20 basic units (Br4 million 200 thousand), Radio Svaboda informs.

As said by the public activist, he was tried without witnesses, and not a single policeman attended the trial, the judge just read out the report drawn up against him. It was written in the report that the picket was held without authorization of the authorities. Photos were attached, where Ashurak stood with a poster “Glass Wool Is Death To Biarozauka.”

Ashurak explained to the court that he took part in the picket, as after bringing into operation the glass wool enterprise, the ecological environment in the town deteriorated greatly: a smell of chemicals is felt in the streets, children started to fall sick – they have dry cough, headaches without fever. A meeting was held in Biarozauka with participation of the administration of the town, but the authorities didn’t respond to the situation.

As said by the activist, the judge also knows that there are ecology problems in Biarozauka, and even asked a question – why Ashurak had not filed a request for holding a picket in accordance with the established procedure? As he said, then the court would consider the denial of the authorities for holding the picket and reasons for that, and probably he would not be fined.

“I answered that I could not file a request for holding a picket to a person who had publicly said at a general meeting of citizens, that there is no ecology problem in Biarozauka. Is it possible for him to give permission to me? I simply could not see any point. A serious ecological problem should be solved here, it is going to become more serious with time, and I am trying to attract attention of the public to it in different ways, as not only us, but our children live here. That was the reason for my actions, so I said I could not admit fault. On the other hand, before staging the picket, I realized very well what expected me,” – Vitold Ashurak said.

An activist Siarhei Trafimchyk was present in the court. As said by him, despite the judge’s sympathy, the environmental problem in Biarozauka still remains.

“One or even several persons cannot push things along obviously. The public, Biarozauka dwellers, should join in. But as they say, one should start with small things, as the environmental situation is getting worse with every day,” – Trafimchyk said.

Vitold Ashurak told to journalists that the punishment would not stop him, and he is going to continue struggle to change the ecological situation in his town.

“We plan a people’s meeting, and we are going to hold several pickets before that, to attract attention t the problem. We should not stop, as the ecological situation is worsening. I think people will join us,” – he said.

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