Uladzimir Labkovich to Be Retried
At 12 a.m. on 20 February Minsk Leninski Borough Court will re-consider the administrative case against Uladzimir Labkovich.
On 29 October 2003 U. Labkovich was punished with a fine for participation in the peaceful protest action against the court liquidation of HRC “Viasna” for violation of article 166 of the Code of Administrative Violations of Belarus, “disobedience to legal claims of the police”.
Head of Minsk City Court M. Ardziaka set aside the first verdict on this case as a result of the refusal of the judge to conduct the trial in Belarusian, violating U. Labkovich’s rights.
As a result, U. Labkovich’s case was directed to re-consideration.
Uladzimir Labkovich hopes that this time the court will satisfy his petition to conduct the trial in Belarusian or provide him with an interpreter. However, he doubts that the imposed fine will be set aside and even thinks that the punishment to him can become harder.
