Authorities earning money on opposition :: Charter'97 :: News

The authorities stopped imprisoning opposition in Belarus but started penalty punishment. New “penalty policy” is much more profitable for the state. The imprisoned have to be taken care of. And in May the penalties of oppositionists replenished the state treasury with 5 thousand dollars. We may say that the opposition helps the state to survive the power resources price hike!

“The new policy” is very promising. For example, the public prosecutor demanded USD 7.2 thousand penalty from the “young fronters” (the final penalty was USD 500 for every convict). And they will not run out of cases: for example now the youth is protesting against historical buildings demolition in Grodna, the rights’ defender Valery Schukin and oppositional leader Andrey Klimau are waiting for the trial.

The “KP in Belarus” newspaper calculated the oppositionists who helped the state treasury in May:

For the Chernobyl Way they penalized first the youth (USD 790 total) then the organizers for another USD 1150.

Penalty of USD 290 was assigned to oppositional policymaker Amatol Lyaukovich for his Day of Labor action.

Four activists of the unregistered “Young Front “ organization were fined with USD1885.

Another USD 290 “earned” the junior “Young Front “ member for distribution of leaflets.

290 dollars are to be paid by two students who came out against the benefits annulment.

USD 145 for protesting against historical buildings demolition in Grodna.

TOTAL around USD 4840