Our Solidarity May Release Palchis, Stefanovich Says

Edward Palchis may be sentenced to imprisonment with suspension or given a suspended sentence.

Deputy Chairman of the HRC Viasna Valyantsin Stefanovich told in the interview to Radio Svaboda.

- Is it likely possible that Edward Palchis can be released after the hearing?

- In fact, there is a possibility. I mean penalties not related to deprivation of liberty. This is either suspension or a suspended sentence. I hope we will see him at large.

We hope that the authorities will show some loyalty in this situation and we will observe something similar to the case of Polienko. There is no hope that Palchis will be justified and paid out compensation for unlawful detention. But we do hope for absence of deprivation of liberty.

- Do pickets near the court building and the opinion of an international community make any influence on the process?

- I guess this is the only thing that makes difference. I appreciate work of lawyers and attorneys. It is very important. But it is not the first year when I observe the situation in our courts. They can barely be called independent. Decisions on matters of such nature are not taken by them, roughly speaking. It is all agreed, and a decision is made at a different level. I am convinced of this.

First of all, resonance around the case plays its role, as well as the reaction of the international journalistic community. Palchis is not journalist. All criteria of journalism are not applicable here. But he is blogger. He is a person who works with information. He disseminates it, expresses his thoughts. Journalist Beyond Borders require to stop the persecution and release him.

We urgently needed an independent voice on his texts. The charge is associated with the incitement of hatred that is unacceptable and punishable in many countries. So the examination of texts was extremely required, for it could testify that they did not aim at incitement of hatred, but just expressed his opinion in acceptable forms. It makes it possible to qualify Palchis's case as politically motivated persecution.

- Why is the trial conducted behind closed doors?

- There may be material relating to special investigation activities, which were carried out in the framework of the case. Maybe, correspondence of Russian and Belarusian special services, including information about extradition.

It's my opinion. I see no other reasons. This is the possible logic. But we believe there are no legal grounds for the closure of this process.