Artur Finkevich released

Hearing of the cassation appeal on the criminal case against Artur Finkevich, political prisoner and one of the Young Front leaders, has taken place today in the has reversed the judgement of the court of Kastrychnitski district of Mahilou on 1.5-year imprisonment. Representative of the US Embassy to Minsk Louis Crishock, politician Vyachaslau Siuchyk and some tens of A. Finkevich’s friends were present at the hearing. Four militiamen in civvies were also present in the court room.

Prosecutor Karankou demanded 6 months and 20 days of imprisonment for Artur. The political prisoner has spent in prison 3 months after the term of his serving at the so called Khimiya (correctional prison facility) expired.

Considering the fact that a prison term is counted as double “khimiya” term, the judgeship of the Mahilou Area Court reversed the decision of the court of Kastrychnitski district on 1.5-year imprisonment. Today afternoons, after documents will be executed, the political prisoner will be released.

Politician Paval Sevyarynets commented on the details of Artur Finkevich’s release and initiating cases against other democratic activists to the Charter’97 press center. In his view, “we are dealing with a special repressive policy of the authorities, when famous to the West political prisoners will be released, to give the authorities a possibility to bargain with the EU, but repressions against other little-known people will continue on a larger scale.”

As an example Paval Sevyarynets reminded a criminal case against Andrei Kim, activist of the campaign “Initiative,” who was brought an official charge yesterday, and other repressions against the youth and entrepreneurs.

“The authorities are pretending to conduct “thaw” policy, but repressions are strengthening: cases against a number of Young Front members and against entrepreneurs’ protests are initiated, students are expelled from universities for their opinions and public activity. It’s not a “thaw,” but just bargaining with the EU, not more,” Sevyarynets emphasised.

It should be reminded that political prisoner Artur Finkevich was serving the term of imprisonment for drawing political graffiti. 10 May 2006 the court of the Pershmaiski district of Minsk sentenced Artur Finkevich to 2 years at khimiya (correctional prison facility). Since 29 June 2006 to 26 October 2007 Artur Finkevich served his term in Mahilou special detention facility №43.

Political prisoner was transferred to pre-trial detention center in Mahilou on 26 October. He was to be released in 1.5 month, but on 16 November he was charged on the article 415 of the Criminal Code of Belarus “evasion of serving punishment” of alleged violation of discipline in the correctional prison facility.

Judge Natallya Krashkina of the Kastrychnitski district court of Mahilou found the leader of the youth democratic movement guilty of criminal offence and sentenced him to 1.5 year of imprisonment in the minimum security colony.

Meanwhile, we remind that a criminal case on the article 364 (violent acts against a militiaman) was initiated against activist of the campaign “Initiative” Andrei Kim. The young man faces up to 6 years of imprisonment.

Former candidate for presidency Alyaksandr Kazulin and former deputy of the 13th Supreme Council Andrei Klimau are still in prisons. Will they be released in the nearest time?

Among 12 EU conditions, after fulfilment of which Europe is ready to cooperate with the official Minsk, the main ones are to release all political prisoners and stop persecution of the opposition, as well as hold free election.