Court turns down claim by Union of Poles

Hrodna Regional Court has turned down a claim by the unrecognized Belarusian Union of Poles against the verdict by Hrodna Leninski Court awarding a 520,000 fine to the participants of an unauthorized rally. The activists of the Polish minority claim that the court failed to follow the necessary judicial procedures – activist Mechyslau Iaskevich did not receive his summons in due time, while Ihar Bantsar was forced to leave the courtroom. However, the verdict was confirmed.
According to the claimants’ lawyer Ihar Sazanovich, the judicial officials must have counterfeited several documents, which resulted in the decision.
Judge Uladzimir Iaukhuta refused to hear evidence by a number of witnesses, including local journalists.
Representatives of the Union of Poles think the verdict is illegal and say they are going to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court of Belarus.