Court bans Alexander Kozlulin from appearing in Minsk
Human rights lawyer Aleh Vouchak has failed to bring political prisoner Alexander Kozulin to the hearing of his case, after Minsk's Leninski District Court rejected his complaint against the prosecutor's office. On February 17, 2006 police used force and tear-gas against the lawyer at the entrance to the National Press Center where presidential hopeful Alexander Kozulin wanted to stage a press conference.
The human rights lawyer filed a statement with the prosecutor's office, demanding to open a criminal case into the matter. His complaint was turned down four months later. Aleh Vouchak was in correspondence with the prosecutor's office and the court for one year and a half.
The lawyer told the European Radio for Belarus what he said at the Leniniski District Court after the fresh refusal.
Aleh Vochak: “I said that the case was political. You, Messrs. Lawyers, have a choice to protect law or protect this regime. Think about the consequences”.
He says that he is happy that most of the time at the hearing was occupied with the talks about Alexander Kozulin, although he was banned from appearing in a court room as a witness.
The lawyer is going to appeal the ruling at the Minsk City Court. Vouchak says he has already drawn a list of 90 judges who were hindering him in this case.
The human rights lawyer filed a statement with the prosecutor's office, demanding to open a criminal case into the matter. His complaint was turned down four months later. Aleh Vouchak was in correspondence with the prosecutor's office and the court for one year and a half.
The lawyer told the European Radio for Belarus what he said at the Leniniski District Court after the fresh refusal.
Aleh Vochak: “I said that the case was political. You, Messrs. Lawyers, have a choice to protect law or protect this regime. Think about the consequences”.
He says that he is happy that most of the time at the hearing was occupied with the talks about Alexander Kozulin, although he was banned from appearing in a court room as a witness.
The lawyer is going to appeal the ruling at the Minsk City Court. Vouchak says he has already drawn a list of 90 judges who were hindering him in this case.
