Trial for books goes on
The
Kastrychnitski District Court of Minsk continues the consideration of the
criminal case against the distributor of Belarusian-language books Ales
Yaudakha.
He is charged with unlawful business activities for helping people to buy books
in the Belarusian language. Book publishers and distributors voice their
concern over this trial and state that the publication of editions in
Belarusian is on the brink barely manages to survive.
As stated by the prosecutor, 230 witnesses will take part in the trial.
Ales Yaudakha mailed to people books by Uladzimir Arlou, Ryhor Baradulin, Vasil
Bykau, Mikola Yermalovich and many other Belarusian writers, poets and
historians. Often one couldn’t buy such books in state-owned shops. The procuracy
considered it as unlawful business and filed a lawsuit. Ales Yaudakha faces up
to 3 years of imprisonment.
