News on the topic: criminal prosecution
07.08.2018 Valiantsin Stefanovich: investigation fails to prove guilt in trade union case
The criminal case of trade unions is, above all, an echo of the global problems related to NGOs’ access to funds, says human rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovich, who has been observing the trial of REP leaders Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik. He has analyzed in detail the first phase of the trial, emphasizing the objectives pursued by the investigators.
03.08.2018 Belarus: trial observation reports breaches of international law in the trial of two trade union leaders
Paris-Geneva, August 3, 2018 – On July 30, 2018, the trial of two trade union leaders, Mr. Henadz Fiadynich and Mr. Ihar Komlik, opened before the Saviecki District Court of Minsk. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT), which sent a judicial observation mission to Belarus earlier this week, reports a number of violations of fair trial standards, and reiterates its call to the authorities to put an end to all forms of harassment against human rights defenders in the country.
30.07.2018 Trial opens in trade union leaders’ tax-evasion case
The Court of Saviecki district of Minsk began today hearing the charges against Henadz Fiadynich, leader of the independent trade union of radio-electronic industry (REP), and the trade inion’s accountant Ihar Komlik. The activists are charged with large-scale tax-evasion (Part 2, Art. 243 of the Criminal Code).
18.07.2018 Human rights defenders call to drop criminal charges against BelaPAN director
Statement on the criminal prosecution of Ales Lipai, director of the BelaPAN news agency, and pressure on journalists in Belarus
17.07.2018 Trial of trade union leaders set for July 30
The trial of Henadz Fiadynich and Ihar Komlik, leader and chief accountant of the REP trade union, has been scheduled for July 30 at the court of Saviecki district of Minsk, palitviazni.info said quoting Komlik.
14.06.2018 Financial police raid apartment of BelaPAN director, charge him with tax evasion
The Minsk apartment of Ales Lipai, director of the BelaPAN news agency, has been searched by financial police this morning. According to human rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovich, the search was conducted by the Department of Financial Investigations of the State Control Committee as part of a criminal case opened against Lipai.
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.
