Lukashenka decorates judge involved in harassment of Viasna

The Belarusian leader Aliaksandr Lukashenka awarded the Medal of Honor to Ms. Valiantsina Kulik, Judge of the Supreme Court of Belarus, who considered the case on the dissolution of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” back in 2003, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Belarus service reports.

Valiantsina Kulik also had to do with a number of other cases involving opposition forces.

In particular, in September 2012 the Judge dismissed a complaint by former presidential candidate Aliaksandr Milinkevich, who had sought registration as a candidate for the House of Representatives.

In 2010, the Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit filed by the founders of the Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) against the Ministry of Justice. Judge Valiantsina Kulik said then that the Ministry of Justice’s decision to deny registration to the party was legal.

In 2008, Judge Valiantsina Kulik announced her verdict on an appeal lodged by the Movement “For Freedom”, which was earlier denied registration. She said that the Ministry of Justice did not violate the law when refusing to register the NGO.

In 2005, the Supreme Court of Belarus considered as legitimate the official warning issued by the Ministry of Justice to the Independent Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies. The case was also considered by Judge Kulik.