“It’s impossible even to comment on this verdict neither from the point of view of logics, nor from the point of view of the law. First the guys were charged with terrorism and subversive activities, and then the charges were changed as the investigation progressed. Nobody remembers that lies and slander were disseminated by officials, including the KGB chairman Stsyapan Sukharenka and the prosecutor general Pyotr Miklashevich. The authorities exerted pressure on Partnerstva activists, and hurled them into prison only because they were afraid of independence observation of the total lawlessness during the elections. I would like to wish Tsimafei Dranchuk, Mikalay Astrejka, Enira Branitskaya and Alyaksandr Shalajka courage and resilience, and forbearance to their families and the loved ones. It worth repeating that resistance to a dictator’s regime is an honourable deed both now and always, and blind obedience of judges and false witnesses is meanness which cannot be forgiven,” told the international coordinator of the Charter’97 civil initiative Andrei Sannikov, commenting on the verdict passed to the activists of the civil initiative of elections observation Partnerstva.
Vera Stramkouskaya, a lawyer of the activist of the civil initiative of elections observation Partnerstva Alyaksandr Shalajka, is set to appeal from the judgement of the court of Tsentralny district in the Minsk city court. Vera Stramkouskaya told about that in an interview to the Charter’97 press center. “I have an ambivalent attitude towards the verdict. On the one hand, I am glad that my client is to be released soon. On the other hand, Alyakasndr Shalajka hadn’t committed any criminally punishable act and hadn’t pleaded guilty,” the lawyer said.
Human rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovich gave the following commentary on the sentence passed to the “Partnership” activists: «First of all, we are convinced that the second part of article 193 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (organizing and managing an unregistered organization) is illegal. It contradicts the Constitution and international legal acts, first of all, “Pact on civil and political rights”, which guarantees the freedom of unions. It is illegal to form an organization that breaches human rights of other people. Thus, part 2 of article 193 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus is illegal, politically motivated, adopted to chase Lukashenka’s rivals and designed to limit the right for unions. Observation of the election was the only purpose of the “Partnership”. The sentence passed today points at the political persecution held in Belarus. And the issue of the election observation makes the powers extremely nervous».
“While standing near the court of Tsentranly district, I had no illusions and understood that the closed trial is a continuation of a prison cell. If the regime, the court system were planning a just sentence of acquittal, they wouldn’t close from people. It is obvious that we cannot expect a carrot from the regime now. It has been confirmed also by the trial over Alyaksandr Kazulin. But today, as a father of one of the activists, I state that this verdict is not a reason to be discouraged. We and our children understand what track we are on. The struggle for our children, for the future of Belarus must go on,” told Valery Dranchuk, a father the Partnerstva activist Tsimafei Dranchuk, convicted to imprisonment, told to the press center of the Charter’97 press center.
Today a verdict to the activists of the civil initiative of elections observation Partnerstva has been passed in the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk. Well-known politicians and public activists, journalists, human rights watchdogs, common citizens have come to express support to Tsimafei Dranchuk, Mikalay Astrejka, Enira Branitskaya and Alyaksandr Shalajka. People have brought white and red carnations, representing the colours of the national flag.
Today judge of the Minsk Central district court Leanid Yasinovich has passed sentences to the activists of the public organization “Partnership”. Mikola Astreika is sentenced to 2 years in custody of general regime, Tsimafei Dranchuk - to 1 year in custody of general regime, Aliaksandar Shalaika and Enira Branitskaya - to 6 months of imprisonment. Leader of the united democratic forces Aliaksandar Milinkevich comments on the sentence to the “Partnership” activists:
The Embassy of Latvia to Belarus claims Belarusians have no problems getting Latvian visas. This statement was spread as a commentary on the information about numerous refusals, which was given in the programme “Panorama” broadcast on August 3. According to the author of the news report, this is the way Latvia “takes revenge” over common Belarusians for the “complete flop on the diplomatic stage”.
The verdict to the activists of elections observation group Partnerstva has been commented by a chairman of the subcommittee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Euopre Andreas Herckel on the Radio Svaboda. “It’s another attempt to stifle the civil society in Belarus, and I regret that it has happened again,” the PACE deputy said.
“We have returned to the 1930ies. I do not understand people who are saying “thanks God, the terms could have been longer”. Even one day without freedom is bad, and half a year or a year are just terrible. We have heard the verdict, but I haven’t heard the answer to the question what for those people have to sacrifice their personal freedom. Is it because of a political schizophrenia ruling our country? Isn’t the price too high? I am a supporter of a proper usage of terms. There hasn’t been a trial; there hasn’t been a judge there. There was an outer shell without internal contents. It’s a trial of Josef Stalin’s era,” told the leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka to the Charter’97 press center, commenting on the verdict to the activists of the civil initiative of elections observation Partnerstva.
“Not only is the verdict, but the legal proceedings in this case are absurd as well. The situation when the Belarusian criminal legislation has an article concerning activities on behalf of an unregistered organization looks absolutely outrageous. In fact, the Criminal Code equates a civil organization that planned to observe presidential lections, to a terrorist organization Al Qaeda. The right for public associations is an inherent right of a citizen. I am really ashamed for my country in which such verdicts are delivered,” told a well-known human rights activist Uladzimir Labkovich to the Charter’97 press center, commenting on the verdict to the activists of Partnerstva civil initiative.
The Justice Ministry of Belarus has informed that in July-August 2006 checks of the activities of three political parties: the Communist Party of Belarus, the Belarusian Ecological Green party and the Party of Communists of Belarus.
Today an acting Ambassador of the US in Minsk Honathan Moor was near the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk, where the trial over the activists of the civil initiative of elections observation Partnerstva continues. “We are still extremely concerned by the this situation. We would like to stay optimistic in the case of the arrested activists of Partnerstva, but it is rather difficult. We are standing here at the porch of the court together with the OSCE colleagues and observe, meet relatives of the accused, representatives of the democratic movement. And we would certainly come here at 3 p.m. to know what the verdict would be,” Jonathan Moor stated to the Radio Svaboda.
After the investigation of the criminal case against a Latvian diplomat in Belarus Reimo Smits information about that would be sent to the Latvian side, Interfax was told by the Internal Affairs department of Minsk city executive committee on Friday. The investigation department specified that the criminal action against R. Smits is at the stage of investigation’s beginning”.
Activists of Petersburg branch of Yabloko party Alexander Shurshev and Gulom Bazarov, detained near the Belarusian consulate yesterday, and taken to the police department number 76, were released on the same day, after they signed a written undertaking to appear in court today. As a correspondent of Fontanka.ru was told by Alexander Shurshev, the trial over the participants of the protest hadn’t taken place because the judge was on holiday. Besides, policemen hadn’t presented necessary documents to the court.
Legal proceeding against the independent newspaper Intex-press started in the court of Baranavichy on August 3. A director of the local shoe plant Vyachaslau Tumaschyk sued the newspaper for an article “Accused for good prices” published in the issue of June 22, 2006, which allegedly damage his honour and dignity.
On August 3 a former candidate for presidency Alyaksandr Kazulin was taken from a prison hospital to Minsk remand prison in Valadarski street. The political prisoner was hospitalised last week for a medical check-up. Representatives of the penal institution in Kalvaryjskaya Street refused to inform Kazulin’s wife about the results of this medical examination.
The verdict to activists of the civil initiative of elections observation Partnerstva Mikalay Astrejka, Tsimafei Dranchuk, Enira Branitskaya and Alyaksandr Shalajka is to be passed today at 3 p.m. in the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk. The Charter’97 press center has been informed about that by relatives of the defendants. Judge Leanid Yasinovich allowed journalists and relatives of the activists to be present during passing the sentence. However, journalists will be prohibited videotaping and audio recording.
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