Union of Poles` Activists Trial is to Start on 23 January :: Charter'97 :: News

The lawsuit against Myachislau Yaskevich, head of the Grodna city department of the Union of Poles in Belarus will be held at the Kastrichnitsky district court of Grodno on 23 January. This fact was reported by Andzey Pachabut, the Union of Poles` activist, to the Charter`97 press-center.

It is to be mentioned, that Myachislau Yaskevich is blamed for committing the crime considered in section 1 of article 339 of the criminal code ( public abuse).

Myachislau Yaskevich was detained by militiamen late in the evening on 5 November last year at the trolleybus-stop. The militiamen stated that he had initiated the fight. Yaskevich was imprisoned and the criminal lawsuit was brought against him. On 7 November he was let free under the obligation to come to inquiries as a suspect.

Section 1 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code prescribes the punishment in the form of public labor or penalty or arrest for 6 months or imprisonment for the period under 2 years.

Myachislau Yaskevich considers that the lawsuit brought against him is not criminal but political persecution, and the claims of the law and order bodies are unfair. According to him, the event of 5 November is a regular militia provocation.

That is not the first case of the criminal persecution of the Union of Poles "activists" but it is for the first time for the Union of Poles` activists to be blamed of a criminal act. Previously, the Union`s activists were arrested and administratively suited.