Young opposition activist sentenced to $435 fine on charge of acting on behalf of unregistered organization :: Charter'97 :: News

A judge of the district court in Baranavichy, Brest region, on September 10 sentenced young opposition activist Yaraslaw Hryshchenya to a fine of 930,000 rubels ($435). Judge Vasil Petryw found the 18-year-old youth guilty of acting on behalf of an unregistered organization called Malady Front (Young Front) under the Criminal Code`s Article 193-1.

The public prosecutor had suggested sentencing the accused to a suspended one-year prison sentence. After the public prosecutor finished his speech, Mr. Hryshchenya said, “I ask to be executed by shooting.” This statement was met with applause from his supporters and the judge ordered them out of the courtroom.

“I should say that Yaraslaw was given back his computer, which had stored information used at the trial,” his associate, Barys Haretski, told BelaPAN. “As far as I know, this is the first case that the seized equipment has been returned to its owner. Formerly, all judges ruled that such equipment should be confiscated.”

An 18-year-old girl, Anastasiya Azarka, who was tried in Nyasvizh, Minsk region, on the same charge on September 4, was fined 1,240,000 rubels ($580).

On the same day, Malady Front activist Ivan Shyla, a resident of Salihorsk, Minsk region, was also convicted of acting on behalf of an unregistered organization, but he got away with a warning, as he was under 18 years of age.
Conviction under Article 193-1 carries penalties of a fine or a prison term of up to two years.

Belarusian human rights defenders and international human rights organizations have condemned this article and repeatedly urged the Belarusian government to abolish it. The article was added to the Criminal Code in December 2005 as part of amendments that provided for harsh punishment "for activities directed against people and public security."

In August 2006, four independent election observers affiliated with an unregistered group called Partnyorstva (Partnership) were sentenced to different terms of imprisonment.

On November 1, 2006, Zmitser Dashkevich, a Malady Front leader, was sentenced to 18 months in a minimum-security correctional institution under this article.

Five other Malady Front activists were convicted of acting on behalf of an unregistered organization in May 2007. Zmitser Fedaruk was fined 1,240,000 rubels (about $580). Aleh Korban, Barys Haretski and Alyaksey Yanushewski were each fined 930,000 rubels ($435). Anastasiya Palazhanka, 17, received an official warning.

Malady Front activists have made several unsuccessful attempts to legalize their organization, which has been in existence for more than a decade. All their applications for registration have been rejected by the justice ministry.