BSDP Deputy Chair keeps appealing penalty for transportation of independent publications

On January 28, Ihar Barysau filed a supervisory appeal to the Chairman of the Mahiliou Regional Court to challenge the Court’s decision of August 12, 2014, which fined the activist 30 basic units for transporting independent media – newspaper “Nash Mahiliou” and newsletter “Social Democrat”.

Ihar Barysau asks the Regional Court to issue a separate decision for Judge Stanislau Leuchanka of the Mahiliou District Court, who knowingly took a decision beyond the court’s jurisdiction, and to assess the offenses reportedly committed by the Mahiliou district police department.

According to the BSDP representative, both decisions are politically motivated.

Stanislau Leuchanka did not conduct examination of the printed materials and did not establish which type of media are the publications seized from the activist.

In addition, according to a Social Democrat, the judge violated the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, according to which citizens are guaranteed the right to a free flow of information.

According to a report of traffic police, Ihar Barysau was only carrying in his car leaflets “Social Democrat”. Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party said that the inspectors did not check the car, and knew in advance what was inside the vehicle.

Meanwhile Part 19, Article 1 of the Law “On Mass Media” has been amended and it now applies only to legal entities, rather than individuals. The new version of the law states that it is impossible to prosecute an individual for the distribution and transportation of printed products.

On July 16, Ihar Barysau, Vice Chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party, together with the deputy chairman of the BPF party Ryhor Kastusiou, was stopped by traffic police outside Mahiliou. According to the police officers, the car was involved in hooliganism in Bialynichy district, and offered to follow them to the police department. During the inspection of the vehicle, police officers seized 11,800 copies of independent publications.