Artur Finkevich, political prisoner

13:06 Artur Finkevich: “I’ve changed six cells during 15 days of arrest”

Artur Finkevich, one of the Young Front leaders, told in the interview to the Charter’97 press center about 15 days of arrest, he had to serve in the detention center for participation in Freedom Day demonstration. He had to change six cells during his term. 

13:13 Artur Finkevich met with Vaclav Havel (photo)

Artur Finkevich, one of the Young Front leaders and former political prisoner, was invited to the One World International Documentary Film Festival in Prague. Former Czech President Vaclav Havel met with participants of the festival on 5 March. 

17:14 Artur Finkevich: “We invite all young people to gather on Svaboda Square on February 14”

Young Front invites Belarusian youth to take part in the rally on February 14, which is to start at 5 p.m. on Svaboda (Freedom) Square in Minsk. 

9:17 Artur Finkevich: «People must know the truth»

“I don’t believe the authorities have settled on liberalisation by release of political prisoners,” Artur Finkevich, leader of the Young Front and former political prisoner, said. He was released on 5 February after the cassational appeal had been heard in the Mahilou city court. 

17:37 Zmitser Bandarenka: “Opposition does not let its people down!”

“Release of Artur Finkevich is a great joy for his family, friends, for all normal people in Belarus. It’s our common victory,” stated the Charter’97 coordinator Zmitser Bandarenka, commenting on today’s release of the political prisoner Artur Finkevich. 

14:50 Mikalay Statkevich: Regime tries to reduce Russia’s pressure

“Regime makes concessions, new “positive signals” to Europe, in order to reduce, counterbalance Russia’s pressure,” believes the former political prisoner, the leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic party “Narodnaya Hramada” Mikola Statkevich, commenting on the release of Artur Finkevich. 

13:55 Viktar Ivashkevich: Lukashenka starts political game between Europe and Russia

“It demonstrates the beginning of a new period of bargaining of Lukashenka’s regime with Russia and Europe for some economic preferences,” told the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front party, one of initiators of the campaign “European Belarus”, commenting on release of Artur Finkevich. 

11:38 Artur Finkevich released

Hearing of the cassation appeal on the criminal case against Artur Finkevich, political prisoner and one of the Young Front leaders, has taken place today in the has reversed the judgement of the court of Kastrychnitski district of Mahilou on 1.5-year imprisonment. Representative of the US Embassy to Minsk Louis Crishock, politician Vyachaslau Siuchyk and some tens of A. Finkevich’s friends were present at the hearing. Four militiamen in civvies were also present in the court room. 

9:05 Progress in democratization will determine Belarus’ relations with EU

Progress in democratization will determine Belarus’ relations with the European Union, Christiane Hohmann, spokeswoman for the EU external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said in an interview with BelaPAN. 

10:37 Demonstration of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners to be held in US

The Belarusian Youth Movement in the US organises a demonstration in defence of Belarusian political prisoners on 10 February. 

8:53 Actions of solidariy in Minsk. 10 people arrested (Photo)

Actions of solidarity with political prisoners took place in Minsk on 16 January. Activists of the civil campaign “Jeans for Freedom” came out to Independence Avenue, Nyamiga Street, Yubileinaya Square, and Sport Palace. 

16:22 Struggle for political prisoners goes on every day (Photo)

A banner with a slogan “Freedom for Finkevich!” was hung out by the Young Front activists on a multi-storey dwelling house on Partizanski Avenue in Minsk. In such a way the Young Front members continue their everyday campaign on release of one of their leaders. 

10:56 Political prisoner Finkevich transferred to convicted inmates ward

Friends of Artur Finkevich have learnt from his letters that the political prisoner has been transferred to another ward, a ward for convicted inmates. The young activist, who has served a term of corrective labour, was sentenced again to a year and a half of imprisonment in December. 

9:54 Freedom for Finkevich, prison for perjurer (Photo)

Graffiti “Freedom for Finkevich!” and slogans “Finkevich should be released! Kuzkou – to prison!” 

9:34 Artur Finkevich’s Street Appeared in Minsk (Photo)

On the 6th day of the campaign for release of Young Front leader Artur Finkevich one of Minsk streets in Chyzhouka urban area, which had the name of Soviet military personality, was renamed after the youngest political prisoner in Belarus. 

16:05 Young People Picketed Internal Affairs Ministry and KGB

Activists of the civil campaign “Jeans for Freedom” were picketing Penal Jurisdiction department. Young people were standing with portraits of the political prisoner Artur Finkevich. Picketers were chanting: “Free Artur Finkevich!” In a few minutes policemen ran up to them. They tore portraits and seized 5 young activists. Picketers heard policemen calling in a paddy wagon and a patrol car. 

14:50 New ordeal for political prisoner

Political prisoner Artur Finkevich had a meeting with his mother in the Magilou remand jail. It has become known that leader of the Young Front will be transferred to the cell where 30 prisoners are kept, though it is designed for 18 people. 

15:01 Portraits of political prisoner Finkevich in Minsk (Photo)

In connection with Artur Finkevich’s arrest his associates plan to stage protest rallies every day. They will put up white-red-white flags, make spray-paintings and paste portraits of the political prisoner. 

11:24 Let’s defend Artur Finkevich!

The trial over Artur Finkevich lasted unusually long and was very slow. Despite of a bad physical and psychological condition, when an ambulance had been called in to him, and injections made, judge Natallya Krashkina decided not to postpone the sitting of the court, though Artur asked about that 2 times, but she questioned the Young Front member with greater cruelty. 

9:28 Vyachaslau Siuchyk: «It was most shameful trial in history of dictatorship»

Civil activist Vyachaslau Siuchyk was present in the court room till the end of the trial over the Young Front activist. “It was the most shameful trial in the history of Lukashenka’s dictatorship. We can’t speak about any rights here at all. It is mockering of Belarusians and Belarus. Of course, it’s a pity that the authorities can afford Artur Finkevich to be imprisoned for 1.5 year,” the politician said. 

9:05 Freedom for political prisoners! (Photo)

Banners with requirement to free political prisoners appeared in Minsk on the day when youth leader Artur Finkevich had trial. Activists of the civil campaign “Jeans for Freedom!” fixed them to the railway bridges over Druzhnaya and Magilouskaya Street. 

19:31 Harsh sentence to Artur Finkevich. 1.5 years of colony

An activist of the Young Front Artur Finkevich has been sentenced to 1.5 years in a penal colony. The political prisoner has been found guilty of misconduct at the correctional institution while serving the sentence. By imposition of such a harsh sentence to Artur Finkevich doom Belarus’ relations with Europe. The main requirement out of the 12 recommendations of the European Union to Belarus was release of political prisoners. 

17:47 Prosecutor demanded 2 year in colony for Finkevich

Prosecutor demanded to sentence youth activist Artur Finkevich to 2 years in colony. The prosecutor said the political prisoner “hasn’t mended his ways” during serving his term. 

14:51 Freedom to Artur Finkevich! (Photo Report)

Today grass-roots protest rallies are held in front of the court of Kastrychnitski district of Mahilyou over the day. People demand release of Young Front activist Artur Finkevich, who is standing a trial on frame-up case. 

11:15 Ambulance called in for Artur Finkevich

Emergency ambulance was called to the court for political prisoner Artur Finkevich. 

10:37 Action near court: youth requires releasing Finkevich

About 60 people are standing near the court of October District of Magilou, where political prisoner Artur Finkevich, activist of the Young Front, has trial now. The youth activists wear t-shirts with the slogan “Freedom for Finkevich!”, have portraits of the political prisoner in their hans and shout “Freedom!” 

8:41 Political prisoner faces 3 more years in prison

Today a trial over Artur Finkevich will start in Mahilyou. He faces three more years of imprisonment for alleged violation of the regime. 

10:19 Artur Finkevich has trial soon

Former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich addressed ambassadors of the foreign states on 17 December and asked them to support one of the organisation Young Front leaders Artur Finkevich. 

11:36 Campaign of Solidarity with Artur Finkevich

If it wasn’t for the second criminal case, Artur Finkevich would return from the corrective labour facility on December 9. but more than a month ago a new criminal action was brought up against the activist for violation of the regime of serving the punishment. 

10:48 Fight for Freedom of Political Prisoners (Photo)

A banner with a demand to release young leader Artur Finkevich has emerged in Minsk. Activists of the campaign “Jeans for Freedom!” attached it to a railway bridge over Druzhnaya Street. 

8:37 Will political prisoner Finkevich be released in December?

A criminal case against one of the leaders of the Young Front Artur Finkevich has been submitted to the court of Kastrychnitski district of Mahilyou. It is expected that the court trial is to start in two weeks headed by judge Krachyk. 

15:29 Political prisoner Artur Finkevich Faces 3 Years of Colony

A young activist Artur Finkevich has spent about a month in a remand prison in Mahilyou. Another criminal case has been initiated against him. “The investigation of the case has finished. Artur has been acquainted with it. Now the case has been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office, and in a few days it would be taken to court,” the lawyer Hanna Rybalka has told to Radio Svaboda. 

Heads of diplomatic missions of EU countries accredited in Belarus call upon release of “Belarusian political prisoners detained for civic activities”. It has been stated in a press-release distributed by the Embassy of Slovak Republic in Minsk with serves as a local EU presidency. 

11:55 New ways of intimidation of political prisoners

The Belarusian regime brings new criminal cases against the political prisoners in order to postpone their release, Gazeta Wyborcza running today. 

13:42 Youth leader Artur Finkevich under threat of imprisonment

Mahilou Prosecutor’s Office has entered a new criminal case against Artur Finkevich, political prisoner, the organization “Young Front” activist – for violation of the regime during the term of serving punishment. Artur has been serving his punishment for two years in Mahilou commandant’s office for political graffiti he had made during the presidential election campaign. He was isolated 26 October when 1.5 months left before his term was out. Now prison threatens Artur. 

11:37 Artur Finkevich: new persecution

Today in the Prosecutor’s office of Kastrychnitski district of Mahilou Artur Finkevich, the organization “Young Front” activist can be charged on a new criminal case. It was brought for violation of the regime in special commandant's office. 

9:42 Release of political prisoners is main requirement of EU

24 October the deputies of the Belarusian “palatka” (house of representatives) began the consideration of the draft law “On amnesty”. It will be the fifth amnesty in the country within the last seven years. Today Aliaksandr Kazulin, Andrei Klimau, Zmiter Dashkevich, Artur Finkevich, Mikola Autukhovich and Yury Liavonau are in prison accused on political motives. The normalization of the relations with Europe depends on how their fate will be determined.