‘Belarusian’ verdict for Alexey Navalny

Russia follows the worst examples of persecuting political opponents in Belarus.

This is how the head of Belarusian Helsinki Committee’s legal department Harry Pahaniajla commented for the charter97.org web-site on the verdict for a Russian oppositionist Alexey Navalny.

“I can tell for sure that the time of the case’s initiation, the very investigation and the buzz around Navalny in media tells of the political motivation behind this case. In the past two-three years Navalny showed himself as one of bright opposition leaders. But it is hard for me to speak of the impartiality, complete investigation, observance of the principles of a fair and independent trial at this process, because we did not follow it. Now we are preparing a group of human activists, which will go to Russia in order to follow the situation with human rights”, - the lawyer noted.

The human rights activist has highlighted that all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes use criminal justice for fighting political opponents.

“In essence, Russia is repeating what once took place and is taking place now in Belarus. We see that Russian authorities incline more and more towards authoritarianism and use unjust and illegal methods against their opponents. The example of Navalny in Russia, Mikhail Marynich’s case in Belarus and a number of other cases confirm that. Belarus represents an experimental ground for tightening the screws and winding up democratic reforms. Some post-Soviet countries repeat the worst examples and use them in their practices. In is taking place today in Azerbaijan, and to a certain extent in Armenia, Ukraine and Russia. I do not even talk about Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, where despotisms are in power”, - Harry Pahaniajla stated.

We would remind that a well-known oppositionist Alexey Navalny was sentenced today to five years in a penal colony on the case of theft in Kirovles company.

According to the investigation agencies, the defendants forced the state enterprise to conclude a knowingly unprofitable agreement, in the result of which it faced the loss of 16 million roubles.

After the announcement of the verdict Navalny managed to post on his Twitter account: “Well, okay. Do not get bored without me. And the main thing – do not idle, the toad will not fall from the oil pipeline by itself”.

The day before the famous politician and blogger was officially registered a candidate for the mayor of Moscow. Earlier they explained at the Moscow electoral committee that in the case of a guilty verdict the candidate from the RPR-PARNAS party Navalny would be withdrawn from the elections, if the verdict enters into force before the election day, scheduled for September 8.