Oppositionist convicted lacking corpus delicti

Brest Regional Court has turned down the appeal by Baranavichy activist Ryhor Hryk, who had been accused of organizing an unauthorized entrepreneur rally in Baranavichy in January 2009 and fined BYR 700,000. According to the human rights activist Siarhei Housha, it was proven that Hryk had not been the organizer of the rally. Besides, the arrest records were drawn up illegally. The witnesses stated in the records testified that they had not named Hryk the organizer of the rally. However, the courts of the two levels paid no attention to this evidence and convicted the activist. Ryhor Hryk considers the case a provocation by the KGB and the police and is going to appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court.