News on the topic: criminal prosecution
17.05.2018 Goodbye, Article 193-1!
The National Legal Internet Portal has published a draft bill on amendments to the Criminal Code, which was prepared by the Council of Ministers. According to the draft, it is planned to repeal Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code, which provides for criminal responsibility for activity on behalf of unregistered organizations.
10.05.2018 REP leaders face final charges
On May 8, leaders of the Belarusian trade union REP Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik faced final charges of large-scale tax evasion (part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code).
13.02.2018 Investigation into trade unions’ case renewed
The authorities have extended the investigation into the case of the REP trade union, the organization’s leader Henadz Fiadynich said quoting the new investigation team.
23.01.2018 REP leader Fiadynich: There is flagrant and blatant interference in trade union’s internal affairs
The Trade Union of Radio and Electronic Industry (REP) has issued a statement to condemn numerous interrogations of its activists recently conducted by the Investigative Committee.
12.01.2018 Verdict in Andrei Bialiauski’s case: 1 year of home detention
The court of Leninski district of Minsk has sentenced Andrei Bialiauski, former defendant in the ‘White Legion case’, to 1 year of conditional restraint of liberty (home detention) on charges of possessing an AK-47 cartridge.
12.12.2017 Ex-defendant in ‘White Legion case’ charged with weapon possession
Andrei Bialiauski, who earlier faced charges in so-called ‘White Legion case’, has been formally accused of storing a cartridge (Part 2 of Art. 295 of the Criminal Code — Illegal manufacturing, purchase, transfer, possession, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of firearms, ammunition, explosives, etc.). Bialiauski told this on December 12, shortly after another interrogation at the Investigative Committee.
30.11.2017 Authorities end investigation in ‘White Legion case’
“The preliminary investigation of the case is completed. On November 27, a decision was taken to discontinue the criminal prosecution of all defendants in the so-called ‘White Legion case’. We believe that this has drawn a line under the case. The case file has been sent to the prosecutor for consideration and assessment of the legality of the decision. The defendants have begun to familiarize with the decision to dismiss the criminal case and the case file,” the Investigative Committee’s website said today.
01.11.2017 Human rights activists call for open trial of columnists charged with inciting ethnic hatred
The Belarusian Association of Journalists, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" have issued a joint statement to demand an open hearing of the criminal charges brought against Yury Paulavets, Dzmitry Alimkin, and Siarhei Shyptsenka.
03.10.2017 Political prisoner Ihar Komlik released before trial
Ihar Komlik, accountant of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronic Industry (REP) and chairman of the union’s Minsk city branch, has been released from pre-trial detention in jail No. 1 in Minsk after spending two month awaiting trial in a criminal case the country’s human rights community said was politically motivated.
26.09.2017 Ongoing harassment of lawyers involved in ‘White Legion case’
The Qualification Commission of the Ministry of Justice has carried out the certification of 13 more lawyers. According to information obtained by the Human Rights Center "Viasna", there are five defenders of persons charged in the so-called ‘White Legion case’ among those who were ‘conditionally certified’. In such circumstances, the human rights defenders rule out the possibility of organizing a trial in accordance with the standards of fair justice.
26.09.2017 15 activists charged in ‘White Legion case’ plead not guilty in a statement
Fifteen persons facing charges in so-called ‘White Legion case’ have issued a statement to plead not guilty, after the authorities extended the investigation for another six months.
22.09.2017 Authorities extend investigation into ‘rioting case’
The Investigative Committee has prolonged the investigation of a criminal case involving 14 persons charged with ‘preparing riots’. The case was opened six months ago and will be underway for at least another half-year.
24.08.2017 Amnesty International: Dzmitry Paliyenka is a prisoner of conscience
Amnesty International believes that Dzmitry Paliyenka has been targeted by the authorities because of his peaceful activism and, as such, that he is a prisoner of conscience. Amnesty International urges the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him.
23.08.2017 Civil Rights Defenders: Belarus Must Drop Charges Against Ihar Komlik and Henadz Fiadynich
Civil Rights Defenders calls upon the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ihar Komlik and to drop all charges against Ihar Komlik and Henadz Fiadynich.
14.08.2017 Henadz Fiadynich charged with tax evasion
Henadz Fiadynich, head of the independent Trade Union of Radio and Electronic Industry (REP), has been officially charged with tax evasion, BelaPAN said quoting the Investigative Committee’s spokesperson Yuliya Hancharova.
