Rats abandoning ship

The judges, who delivered judgements against opposition members, began to resign on “their own accord”.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed a Decree on Appointment and Resignation of Judges of Belarusian Courts and on Changes in the Composition of the Presidium of the Mahilou Region Court on June 18. The document names about 60 judges, 14 of which were relieved of their posts, Nasha Niva newspaper writes.

Five judges were dismissed, five resigned on their own accord. Among them were six judges, who delivered unfair judgements against opposition activists. Five of them are on the EU blacklist.

An interesting thing happened to Alyaksandr Khadanovich and Tatyana Paulyuchuk. Khadanovich was relieved of a post of a judge of the Tsentralny district court of Minsk in connection with Paulyuchuk's return to work after her “social leave”. The latter however resigned on her own accord.

Tatyana Paulyuchuk was earlier involved in a corruption case against prosecutor of the Minsk region Mikhail Snyahir.

In November 2008, Alyaksandr Lukashenka held a meeting to discuss corruption. According to him, Snyahir bought a luxury flat at an underestimated price. It was unclear how the prosecutor was able to earn such a sum. Judge Paulyuchuk, Lukashenka said, delivered judgements in claims in favour of Snyahir. Lukashenka demanded Chair of the Supreme Court Valyantin Sukala to dismiss Paulyuchuk. The order wasn't fulfilled.

Paulyuchuk also stood out due to political trials.

Ahead of March 25, 2008, she jailed Alyaksei Marachkin for 5 days. She also tried young opposition activists.

Alyaksandr Khadanovich passed judgements over the 2010 post-election protests, which became a cause to put him on the EU blacklist. One of his latest politically motivated proceeding this year was a trial over Alyaksandr Barazenka and Mikita Kavalenka in January. Khadanovich sentenced both to short terms in custody.

Natallya Chatvyartkova was relieved of a post of a deputy chair of the Partyzanski district court of Minsk “due to expiration of the term of office”.

She sentenced former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov to five years in prison.

She also convicted other participants of the post-election protests – Aleh Hnedchyk, Uladzimir Yaromenak, Illya Vasilevich, Fyodar Mirzayanau. She was banned from entering the EU.

Hanna Samalyuk, a judge of the Frunzenski district court of Minsk, was subject to the EU travel ban for a case over the rally on December 19, 2010. She was dismissed “due to expiration of the term of office”.

Lidzia Khrushcheuskaya, a judge of the Frunzenski district court of Minsk, was relieved of her post due to retirement. She is alled banned from entering the EU for trials over participants of the post-election protests.

Tatyana Parkhomenka resigned on her own accord. She worked in the Leninski district court of Minsk. She conducted trials over participants of last year's “silent protests”.

Raman Byassmernty was was relieved of his post in the Pershamaiski district court of Vitebsk due to retirement.

The case against CCP/BPF party activist Syarhei Kavalenka was heard in that court.