21.04.2009 Independent journalist Liubenchuk fined

Judge Yury Harbatouski has found independent journalist Ales Liubenchuk guilty of violing public order and fined him BYR 700,000. Ales Liubenchuk was arrested on 16 April after a trial over Zmitser Khvedaruk as he tried to take picture of a plainclothes policeman. ‘It looks like the police have not had the time to give the same evidence, for their words were completely different. After all, I do not understand how the judge could find me guilty,’ said the journalist after the trial.

21.04.2009 Supreme Court to humanize penal system

The Supreme Court of Belarus has adopted a resolution advertising the use of less punitive sentences, which might be another step towards the humanization of the Belarusian penal system. The Supreme Court has admitted that the majority of Belarusian prisoners representing little social danger, and thus recommended using less punitive programs – probation, parole, as well as a graded fines system. On the other hand, grave and repeat offenders are not likely to feel relieved.

21.04.2009 Youth activist Barazenka addresses prosecutor’s office with a claim

Activist of the European Belarus civil campaign Aliaksandr Barazenka, who was among the persons involved in the notorious ‘case of the 14’, has lodged a complaint with Pinsk Prosecutor’s Office against Siarhei Kisel, penal inspector, who had beaten him on 23 March and issued a warning for violating sentence execution regulations. On 17 April Barazenka was summonsed to Pinsk Town Prosecutor’s Office to be interrogated on the incident.

21.04.2009 Court turns down claim by Union of Poles

Hrodna Regional Court has turned down a claim by the unrecognized Belarusian Union of Poles against the verdict by Hrodna Leninski Court awarding a 520,000 fine to the participants of an unauthorized rally. The activists of the Polish minority claim that the court failed to follow the necessary judicial procedures – activist Mechyslau Iaskevich did not receive his summons in due time, while Ihar Bantsar was forced to leave the courtroom. However, the verdict was confirmed. According to the claimants’ lawyer Ihar Sazanovich, the judicial officials must have counterfeited several documents, which resulted in the decision. Judge Uladzimir Iaukhuta refused to hear evidence by a number of witnesses, including local journalists. Representatives of the Union of Poles think the verdict is illegal and say they are going to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court of Belarus.

21.04.2009 Viktar Hanchar, disappeared 10 years ago, called as witness in blast case

The vice speaker of the 13th Supreme Council must go to the Savetski district militia department of Minsk.

“On April 19, on Easter Day, we organized a picnic with children. When we returned, I found a summons in the mailbox. It said Hanchar Viktar must appear as a witness in the Savetski district militia department on April 20 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. investigator Spirydovich Hleb calls him. The summons contains a telephone number 331-04-27, one should phone it if he or she can’t go to the militia department. I think it is connected with the case of the bomb blast on July 4, 2008. It’s a mockery! This is ignorance of the situation in the country. Where do these people live, who does work in our militia?” Zinaida Hanchar, wife of the politician, told in an interview to “Belorusski Partizan”.