Corrupted judges remain at their posts. Yesman to try political prisoner

Judges, accused by Lukashenka in corruption, continue to work; one of them, Yesman, will try political prisoner Aliaksandar Barazenka.

On 14 November, after Aliaksandar Lukashenka’s speech at a session on corruption control, Mikalai Kupryanau and Mikhail Sniahir (deputy prosecutor and prosecutor for Minsk region respectively) were dismissed and a criminal case over abuse of official position was instigated against them.

On November 13, Lukashenka said at the anti-corruption session that Mikhail Sniahir made a businessman sell him a flat at $75,000, though its real price was about $500,000. According to the head of state, deputy prosecutor Mikalai Kupryanau knew it and even helped the region prosecutor.

Aliaksandar Lukashenka also gave names of three judges of Сentralny district court of Minsk – Tatsшana Paulyuchuk, Alena Illyina, and Valer Yesman, infamous for the political cases they judged.

While prosecutors were dismissed and charged the same very day, the judges continue to hold office, RFE/RL reports.

Valer Yesman was appointed to judge the case of Aliaksandar Barazenka, activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, involved in the Process of the Fourteen. RFE/RL found out, he would judge the oppositionist. However, the date of the trial was not appointed yet.

Judges Illyina and Paulyuchuk still work in Centralny district court of Minsk.

The head of state also accused deputy minister of internal affaires, chief doctor of the hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other persons of illegal possessing of land on the territory of a kindergarten near Zaslauskaye water storages.

This information is to be checked by a commission by the end of November. The officials will remain at their posts till the results of the check are announced.