Malady Front members stand trial, sentenced to “small” fines
The youth have tried to register their group for four times, but the Ministry of Justice is stubborn in rejecting their applications. It is the second day in a row when Malady Front activists gather in front of the court house to support their fellow members. But riot police prevent them from getting inside the court.
There are almost 200 teenagers wearing red-white-red bands and pins, but the hearing room can only accommodate 20 people. But the truth is that police are not trying to disperse the crowd, which includes among other famous politicians like Pavel Seviarynets, Anatol Liabedka and Stanislau Shushkevich…
Enira Baranitskaja served 6 months on the same charges her fellow members are being tried today.
“It means a lot that many people came here. People express discontent with no fait trial of these teenagers, because they are going to prosecute them using an article which is not constitutional,” she says.
The trial is scheduled to start at 1500. Only the defendants, some parents, journalists from the independent media, foreign diplomats and human right activists are inside the hearing room. Valery Schukin had his elbow scratched and shirt dirty apparently when police were trying to lock him out of the court house.
At 1520 the crowd started shouting “For Freedom!” and “Long Live Belarus!” when Alexander Milinkevich approached the building. The ex-presidential contender recently expressed willingness to join the ranks of the Malady Front. He was present inside the hearing room at the previous session, but today he did not enter the building.
At 1527 members of the court led by Judge Ruslan Aniskevich rushed into the room. Anislevich read out the verdict right away.
“Zmicier Khvedaruk, Aleg Korban, Aliaksaj Janusheuski and Barys Garetski have been found guilty of founding an illegal organization and taking part in the activities of a public association that was not registered.
According to Article 193 of the Penal Code, they are sentenced to fines: Khvedaruk to Br1,240,000 ($600), Korban, Janusheuski and Garetski to Br930,000 ($460). Anastasija Palazhenka has been reprimanded,” the verdict said.
The court also ruled that part of the evidence to be destroyed while other evidence to be passed to investigators from KGB “for further processing of the materials”. The computer memory and hard discs from the defendants’ computers will be confiscated by the state. Judge Ruslan Aniskin disappeared from the hearing room right after reading out the verdict. The defendants are smiling, as their fines are much less than 500 base rates initially demanded by the prosecutor. Aleg Korbun described the verdict as the youth’s victory.
“We will find the money and pay the fines. It is not a huge amount. We will continue taking part in the pro-democracy movement,” Korbun told the European Radio for Belarus.
The former defendants were met by fellow members with congratulations and Champaign. U.S. Ambassador in Minsk, Karen Stewart was present at the both sessions. She is not inclined to believe this day as a victory of democracy.
“We are concerned over the fact that such trials take place in general. The problem is not about how the trial was handled. In the opinion of the American leadership, the problem is in the Belarusian laws. The problem is that there are such laws that provide for the prosecution of the young people that want to gather and discuss anything,” Karen Stuart said.
Pavel Seviarynets, recently a political prisoner himself, does not have the best feelings, either.
“My attitude to this trial is nothing by a shame. In the center of Europe, they are prosecuting children who long for freedom and democracy for their Motherland,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zmicier Dashkevich has been serving his prison term on the same charges of acting on behalf of an unregistered organization...
Photo by photobymedia.net
