Belarusian Human Rights Activists Call Court Rulings In Ukrainians’ Case Politically Motivated :: Charter'97 :: News

The ruling of the city court of Minsk to affirm a previous court decision and leave 5 Ukrainian activists from the “National Alliance” in prison, thought the same4 court released 14 Russian citizens also sentenced for participation in protest on April 26, was called politically motivated by Belarusian human rights activists.

The head of the human rights center “Viasna” Ales Bialatski calls the last decision of the Minsk city court illustrative for the court system of Belarus:

“It once again shows the complete dependence of the Belarusian courts from the executive power. I have no doubt that the changes of the rulings of the district court are connected with direct order of the Belarusian executive authorities,” told Bialatski to Radio Svaboda.

Mr. Bialatski thinks that these rulings also show political vectors of the Belarusian foreign policy. The attitude of the official Minsk towards Ukraine differs from the attitude towards Russia.

“Current Belarusian authorities are simply afraid of Russian official authorities, they respect them. Russian authorities are giving them the jitters. The difference between the two groups of neighbouring countries’ representatives, who in fact had done the same, could be explained only in this way”, human rights activist said.

Aleh Hulyaka, a lawyer of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, also believes that the Belarusian court had prepossession towards the Ukrainian citizens:

“It is the political process from beginning to end. When people are accused of the same violations, but one of them have been released, and others are left imprisoned, it is another proof that it is a purely political, administrative decision. Unfortunately, there is little juridical aspect in it,” the lawyer told.

Meanwhile, Minsk city court refused to comment on the decision in the case of the Ukrainian citizens. Ruslan Yesin, Belarusian FM representative, also refused to give comments in this situation.