Minsk court partially acquits entrepreneur

As a result of reconsidering the administrative case of Viachaslau Pilipuk at the Pershamaiski District Court of Minsk on November 26, the entrepreneur was acquitted on one of the charges.

The businessman campaigned against the cutting of trees for the construction of an Audi auto center in Minsk’s Uruchcha district. On August 1, he was detained near the administration building of Pershamaiski district, after he was not allowed to attend a meeting on the construction. He was then charged under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (illegal picketing). On August 5, Mr. Pilipuk was detained again after a meeting of Uruchcha residents.

On October 1, Pershamaiski District Court Judge Siarhei Bandarenka, having considered the administrative case in the absence of Viachaslau Pilipuk, found him guilty of participating in unsanctioned rally and picketing (twice, on August 1 and 5) and punished the entrepreneur by a fine of 2 million 600 thousand rubles.

Disagreeing with the decision, Viachaslau Pilipuk, assisted by the Human Rights Center "Viasna", appealed it to the Minsk City Court. As a result, Judge Bychkou agreed that Pershamaiski Court failed to take necessary measures to notify Mr. Pilipuk of the consideration of his administrative case. Under such circumstances, the Minsk City Court ruled to overturn the ruling of Pershamaiski District Court of October 1, 2013 and to send the case for a new trial by another judge.

On November 26, Pershamaiski District Court Judge Leanid Yarmolenka, having examined all the circumstances, ruled to punish the entrepreneur on one of the charges only and fined him 650 thousand rubles.