Liberty to Schukin, Malakhov, Severinets, Dranchuk! :: Charter'97 :: News

Another crackdown on human rights has been unleashed in Belarus. Within the past few days there appeared four political prisoners in the country.

For holding the action in support of the freedom of speech on the Independence Day on July 27 the court detained and sentenced to 10 days of jail the Young Front leader Pavel Severinets. This year alone the young man accumulated a few months of administrative arrests.

The “Narosnaya Volya” journalist, human rights defender and deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet Valery Schukin was captured in the Grodno region on July 28 and sentenced to 15 days of arrest for his attempt to fulfill the editorial board’s instructions to get through to the Autocephalous Church’s temple, which is due to be demolished by the authorities. The law-enforcers dragged a 60-year old officer from the car, handcuffed him and threw on the ground. The court denied him right for defense. Exertion of pressure on the journalist is part of the state Crusade on eradicating the freedom of speech. “Pagonya” journalists Pavel Mozheiko and Mikola Markevich were sentenced to compulsory labor, criminal proceedings have been instituted against the “Rabochy” editor Viktor Ivashkevich, while the “Narodnaya Volya” newspaper is being exposed to harassment.

Politician and entrepreneur, member of the United Civil Party, co-chairman of the “Private Property”, dealing with the protection of businessmen’s rights, Leonid Malakhov was arrested on July 29. The Sovietsky district court of Minsk ruled 10 days of arrest against him for organizing the action under the motto: “Can’t Live Like That!” and “Stop violating businessmen’s rights!” UCP chairman Anatoly Lebedko faces legal action over libeling the president.

ZUBR coordinator Timofei Dranchuk was arrested on July 29 for his part in the Freedom Day festivities in March this year. On April 2 the court sentenced him in his absence to 10 days of jail. Although the time of the verdict’s validity already expired almost a month ago, the young man was delivered to the Okrestina str. confinement center to serve his term there. When in a prison cell, Dranchuk started suffering from high blood pressure and heartaches, but the administration refused to call for an ambulance. Not until July 31 morning they delivered him to the hospital. Now he’s staying there in the company of a few armed plan-clothed men, being handcuffed to his bunk. They refuse to present their IDs, nor say what structure they represent.

We demand immediate release of all political prisoners! We state that despite harsh repressions, the resistance to the regime will continue! Together we will overcome!

Ludmila Gryaznova, 13th Supreme Soviet deputy

Alexander Dobrovolsky, 13th Supreme Soviet deputy

Andrei Klimov, 13th Supreme Soviet deputy, member of the “Private Property”

Anatoly Lebedko, Vice-Speaker of the 13th Supreme Soviet, UCP chair

Gennady Terenya, 13th Supreme Soviet deputy

Vasil Shlyndikov, 13th Supreme Soviet deputy

Alexander Atroschenkov, ZUBR movement’s press-secretary

Aleksei Shydlovsky, ZUBR coordinator

Evgeny Skochka, deputy Young Front chair