Prosecutor’s Office: Witnesses May Lie In Court :: Charter'97 :: News

Even when witnesses lie in the court, they cannot be brought to justice. That was the essence of the answer from the prosecutor’s office received by Uladzimir Katsora, an opposition activist, to his appeal. Uladzimir Katsora was the head of Homel regional headquarters of presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich’s campaign.

According to the www.belngo.info, Katsora asked the prosecutor’s office to bring to account S.V.Nyaznaeu, who was acting deputy head of the police department of Chyhunachny district of Homel, and citizens Smirnou and Korzh. As said by Katsora, those citizens have been giving false testimony. They said that Katsora allegedly beaten Smirnou by his house. Police captain S. V. Nyaznaeu, who was in charge of Katsora’s detention. Told in the court that the activist resisted violently during the detention. The court of Chyhunachny district of Homel on grounds of this testimony and ruled to arrest Uladzimir Katsora for 15 days, from March 18 to 27. Katsora believes that this case is fully lieful. He was on hunger strike during all days of detention.

In the answer signed by the prosecutor of Chyhunachny district of Homel, senior Counsellor in Justice G.N. Ramaniuk, is stated that “in hearing of administrative cases the legislation does not envisage warning of citizens about accountability for false testimony”, that is why citizens “cannot be brought to account”. It follows from the explanation of the prosecutor that witnesses may lie in administrative cases and not answer for that according to the law.

“It is obvious from the term of arrest that the authorities have imprisoned Katsora for the period when highest political activities were expected,” the chairman of Homel city branch of the public initiative “Pravavaja Initsyjatyva” Leanid Sudalenka believes.

There is still no answer to the second appeal of Katsora concerning his 15-days arrest in April. The second arrest coincided with the period of preparation and holding the Path of Chernobyl protest march.