Hrodna Regional Court “steadfast”

Yury Hlebik, civil activist from the town of Svislach, Hrodna region, received a reply to his complaint from the chairman of Hrodna Regional Court in connection with the imposition of an administrative fine for taking part in the celebration of the 1863 Uprising Memorial Day on October 27, 2012.

On November 27, Judge Zhana Salahubik of Svislach District Court fined the activist 1 mln rubles for participating in “an unauthorized action.” Yury Hlebik appealed the fine at the Regional Court, but on December 20, 2012 Judge Mikalai Rachynski predictably considered the verdict legitimate. After that, another appeal was submitted to the chairman of Hrodna Regional Court, Aliaksandr Hrynkevich, who, in turn, argued that the “trial was conducted in a full, objective and comprehensive manner.” The most absurd of all the decisions of the courts is the assertion that during the “unauthorized rally” on Memorial Day the activists “discussed the events of social and political life of the country.” Hrodna and Svislach human rights defenders believe that honoring national heroes is the right of the citizens, and laying flowers on the graves and monuments does not require any permits.

Yury Hlebik, as well as two more Svislach activists fined by the court (Viktar Dziasiatsik and Anatol Valiuk), are going to complain to the UN Human Rights Committee.