Ryhor Kastusiou can't receive motivating part of the verdict

January 5, the BPF Deputy Head Ryhor Kastusiou filed a preliminary application with the Mahiliou Regional Court against the verdict of the Shklou District Court of December 23, 2014, according to which he was punished with a fine for participation in the Memorial Day of the Kalinouski rebels in Svislachon October 26, 2014.

According to Mr. Kastusiou, he had to file the appeal rather quickly, writingit by hand, because the Shklou District Court suddenly refused to represent him the motivating part of the verdict, citing the fact that it was contained in the court decision itself.

"January 5, I got a call from the secretariat of the Shklou District Court and was told that I could come to the court and take the motivating part of the verdict. I received the verdict on December 29 and on on December 31 I applied to the court asking to be issued with the motivating part. I was assured that I would be provided with this document.

To my great surprise on January 5, when I came to the Shklou District Court at about 4 p.m., I was offered to sign for the paper, which reported that the motivation part of the verdict of December 23, 2014 was contained in the court decision itself, and therefore I wouldn't be provided with it, though earlier I had been assured I would be issued with it additionally. I immediately contacted the human rights activist Barys Bukhel who advised me what to do. I had to write by hand a preliminary appeal to the Mahiliou Regional Court, in which I set out all the circumstances of the case. I immediately paid the state fee in the bank and managed to file the appeal to the Shklou District Court before the end of the working hours, 6 p.m. I had to act very quickly not to miss the deadline for the appeal," said Ryhor Kastusiou.

Let us remind, that on October 26, 2014, a traditional commemoration of the Kalinouski rebels took pace in the town of Svislach on October 26, 2014. It was attended by civil society activists from different regions of Belarus, including Ryhor Kastusiou.

The event was watched by people in civvies and shot on video by a police cameraman. Afterwards, many members of the memorial event were punished with huge fines.