Harsh sentence to Artur Finkevich. 1.5 years of jail

20.12.2007. Tags: Young Front, Finkevich, criminal persecution.
Source: Charter`97.

Young Front activist Artur Finkevich was sentenced to 1.5 years in a penal colony. The political prisoner has been found guilty of misconduct at the correctional institution while serving the sentence. By imposition of such a harsh sentence to Artur Finkevich doom Belarus’ relations with Europe. The main requirement out of the 12 recommendations of the European Union to Belarus was release of political prisoners.

And the government does not release prisoners of conscience; on the contrary, they incarcerate them to even longer terms. Political prisoner Artur Finkevich has been found guilty of misconduct at the correctional institution. He faced up to three years in a penal colony. Two years ago Artur Finkevich was arrested and sentenced to restriction of freedom for spray-painting slogans: “Fed up with him!” and “We want a new one!” While serving a term the young man was several times penalized for misconduct, though he disagreed with that, but failed to challenge the penalties. If it were not for the criminal case, Artur would be released 10 days ago.

“It’s a very harsh sentence. In the next few days we shall hold an extraordinary meeting of the steering committee of the campaign “Free Finkevich”. We shall advocate release of Artur. In this way the regime wants to intimidate free-thinking young people. But they won’t overcome us,” a young leader Paval Sevyarynets commented on the verdict.