Mikhail Marinich says he may be released in July under amnesty law :: Charter'97 :: News

Mikhail Marinich, a convicted opposition figure, said he had been told by the administration of a correctional institution where he is currently serving his prison term that he might be released in July under a recently enacted amnesty law, according to a statement issued by the French and German embassies in Minsk last week.

The French and German ambassadors visited Mr. Marinich on May 31. He told them that he had been "orally notified" that he is eligible for amnesty under the law that took effect in early May and may be released in July.

Mr. Marinich`s son, Pavel, told BelaPAN that he could not confirm the reports as neither he nor the lawyer were allowed to visit his father these days.

Meanwhile, the diplomatic missions of Slovakia and the Czech Republic in Minsk have applied to the prison administration for permission to visit Mr. Marinich on June 17.

Mikhail Marinich, a former minister and diplomat turned opposition leader, was sentenced to five years in prison in December 2004 on what is widely believed to be a politically motivated charge. He was found guilty of misappropriating office equipment that the Delovaya Initsiativa (Business Initiative) association, of which he was chairman, had received from the US embassy for temporary use. Members of the association testified at the trial that they had known that the equipment in question had been kept in the garage of Mr. Marinich`s son after authorities had ordered the association to vacate the rented premises. The United States repeatedly declared that the allegedly stolen computer equipment had at all times remained American property, and that the United States made no claims against Mr. Marinich or his association. In February, he had his prison sentence reduced to 3.5 years for his "past services to the state" and "deteriorated health."
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