Conditional Early Release From Punishment Refused to Yuri Bandazheuski :: Charter'97 :: News

The commission of the labour colony-settlement number 26 by the village of Hezgaly in Dziatlau district, refused to grant a conditional early release to Professor Yuri Bandazheuski (Yury Bandazhevsky). Yuri Bandazheuski had served three thirds of the term, and according to the law he had a possibility to apply for a conditional early release. Professor had not committed any violations of discipline, and his state of health had deteriorated recently. However the commission of the colony did not take into consideration these facts and refused to release him in connection with absence of confession of guilt by Yuri Bandazheuski, and his disagreement to pay off legal coats.

As said by his wife, Halina Bandazheuskaya, she does not have money for paying off costs to the court. The court did not find any money of the family before, and Professor himself had not been working for almost six years.

A well-known human rights watchdog, deputy head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Harry Pahanyajla believes that the grounds for not granting the conditional early release to Yuri Bandazheuski are implausible.

“It is not only the colony, but the government does not want to see Dr. Bandazheuski released. The reasons referred to by the administration, like absence of confession of guilt and not paying some legal costs, are fabricated. They are not indicated in any standard acts,” human rights activist said.

According to Mr. Pahanyajla, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee will challenge the actions of the colony’s administration in the court and in the prosecutor’s office.

Professor Yuri Bandazheuski and his colleague, Homel Medical Institute pro-rector Uladzimir Raukou were charged with a bribe in 2001. Yuri Bandazheuski was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment. The term was shortened by two years later according to the amnesty law. Part of his term he served in Minsk prison. Human rights activists believe that a world-famous researcher was imprisoned for his research in the field of radiation medicine. Professor claimed that life in contaminated areas is dangerous for human health. The Committee in defence of Professor Bandazheuski was created in France. The “Amnesty International” and scientists of different countries are sending letters to the colony with a demand to release Yuri Bandazheuski, so that he could return to scientific work.