If you want to use Belarusian – pay for interpreter’s services
On 6 November the Baranavichy human rights defender
Siarhei Housha received an answer from the first deputy head of the main
justice department of the Brest Region Executive Committee A.Hushchyn.
The activist has spent already four moths struggling for his right to use the
Belarusian language and receive answers in the language and application at the
Baranavichy city and the Brest
region courts.
However, the judges V.Petryu and A.Kmita keep sending him all documents in
Russian, violating the legal requirements (according to which citizens’
applications must be answered in the language of application) and ignoring Housha’s
oral and written requests to be provided with answers in the Belarusian
language.
That’s why on 24 October Siarhei Housha applied to the main justice department
of the Brest Region Executive Committee, asking to oblige the Baranavichy City
and District Court and the Brest
Region Court to issue him with all court documents
in the Belarusian translation.
The answer of the justice department of the Brest CEC informs the human rights
defender that according to Article 13 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus
“On the court proceedings and the status of judges,” court proceedings can be
held either in Belarusian or in Russian. The official of the justice department
states that those who have an insufficient command of the Russian language have
the right to use interpreter’s services on their own expense(!!!).
“I totally disagree with such an answer, because Articles 17 and 50 of the Constitution
of the Republic
of Belarus guarantee my
right to use the Belarusian language and choose the language of communication. According
to Article 5 of the Law “On Languages”, state officials must answer in the
language in which they were addressed. That’s why I intend to continue seeking
justice, this time – at the Ministry of Justice,” argues Mr. Housha.