“Amnesty International” recognized Belarusian oppositionists Prisoners of Conscience
- 13.05.2009, 11:15
The international human rights organisation “Amnesty International” has recognized participants of the Process of Fourteen Prisoners of Conscience.
It has been stated in the official letter addressed to the Prosecutor General of Belarus Ryhor Vasilevich.
In his address to the prosecutor general of Belarus a representative of the Amnesty International Nicola Duckworth, director for affairs of Europe and Central Asia, wrote in particular:
“I am writing to you with regard to the case of 11 young people who have been punished by restriction of freedom for participation in the protest rally on January 10, 2008 in Minsk.
Amnesty International is convinced that they have been punished for participation in peaceful exercise of their right for peaceful rallies and expression of their opinions. In this connection we declare them prisoners of conscience”.
In the address published by the human rights centre “Viasna”, Amnesty International names the eleven persons involved in the Process of Fourteen: Artsyom Dubski, Mikhail Pashkevich, Tatsyana Tsishkevich, Paval Vinahradau, Alyaksei Bondar, Mikhail Kryvau, Alyaksandr Straltsou, Alyaksandr Charnyshou, Mikhail Subach, Maxim Dashuk and Alyaksandr Barazenka. The organisation called prisoners of conscience those who are serving the sentence in the form of restriction of freedom. Now in fact that are under home arrest, under close surveillance, and after an insignificant violation they could be thrown to prison any moment.
As we have informed, two other participants of this criminal case, Anton Kojpish and Uladzimir Syarheeu, were fined.
Nicola Duckworth in the address to the prosecutor general Vasilevich calls upon him to free from punishment the participants of the Process of Fourteen, and carry out investigation of beating the activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Alyaksandr Barazenka by a police officer on March 23.
In connection with this fact Amnesty International demands the prosecutor general to control actions of policemen who are in charge of controlling the conditions of restriction of freedom and guarantee that the abovementioned 11 activists are to be treated justly and without prejudice.
The Process of Fourteen is a criminal action under article 342 of the Criminal Code of Belarus against participants of the peaceful protest rally of small businessmen held in Minsk on January 10, 2008.
On May 15 a trial over a political prisoner Artsyom Dubski is to take place. He is charged with violation of the rules of serving the sentence.
Amnesty International is an international movement uniting 2.2 mln people from more than 150 countries and territories who fight for the end of gross human rights violations.