Mahiliou court upholds dismissal of opposition activist

Judge Valiantsina Lapatsina of Mahiliou Leninski District Court dismissed yesterday a lawsuit brought by Mikalai Zalozny, local activist of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada), who demanded reinstatement in his job as a mechanic in one of the city’s hostels.

The court ruling says that the disciplinary sanctions imposed on the activist by his employer during the past few months were well-grounded, which makes his dismissal legal.

“My dismissal is politically motivated. The Judge did not reinstate me, because I suspect that she was prompted to take that decision,” says the BSDP activist.

Former mechanic, Mikalai Zalozny faced harassment by his employer after he became member of his associate’s campaign team in the 2012 parliamentary elections.

The activist was forced to provide written explanations on his activities within the Party. He was repeatedly deprived of bonuses on trumped-up charges and was eventually forced to leave, after being transferred to a working place with improper conditions.