Brest Regional Court dismisses appeal of activist in Baranavichy

On November 24, the Brest Regional Court dismissed a cassation appeal lodged by Baranavichy entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus in a defamation lawsuit against deputy chief of the city department of internal affairs Eldar Vilchkouski. The court session was conducted by Judge Andrei Alesenka.

“I very much hoped that the Regional Court would nevertheless sort out my case and recognize that Lieutenant-Colonel Eldar Vilchkouski distributed in official documents derogatory and offensive information alleging that during my detention as a result of an unauthorized strike of Baranavichy entrepreneurs on July 2 I pretended to feel unwell. Why do I need to pretend when I am disabled, and the documents from the city hospital presented to the court showed that I had a hypertensive crisis, not a simulation of the disease. But traditionally, the Regional Court decides disputes only in favor of government agencies. The Regional Court has never sided with representatives of non-governmental organizations, especially the organizer of an unauthorized strike,” says Mikalai Charnavus.

The activist has not yet decided whether he will appeal the verdict to a higher court.