UCP Leader: “Parliamentary” Campaign Started

Activists of the United Civil Party have been fined for handing out leaflets demanding resignation of Lukashenka and his government.

On May 6 the chairman of the United Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka, as well as activists of the organisations Volha Mayorava and Dzianis Krasachka were fined by the court of Zavadski district of Minsk 50, 30 and 30 basic units respectively (Br10.5, Br6.3 and Br 6.3 million) for “handing out informational mateirals aimed against the authorities and government” on April 14 near the entrance of Minsk Automobile Plant, BelaPAN reports.

Judge Alena Nerkasava found Liabedzka and members of the UCP guilty of violation of the order of organizing or holding mass events (Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code.)

The today’s proceedings in administrative courts, Liabedzka believes, “could not be called a trial.”

“The parliamentary electoral campaign has officially started for us today. It is an absolutely obvious background of hearing the administrative cases: dissemination of informational materials with criticism of the authorities is considered equivalent to an unsanctioned rally. This all contradicts the Constitution, the law on political parties,” – the politician said.

Liabedzka is indignant at the wording explaining the fines: “handing out informational materials, aimed against the authorities and the government.”

“The judge tried to justify accusation by the fact that we had held an unsanctioned event, but all witnesses only confirmed the fact of handing out informational materials, no one said it was a picket or a march,” – he noted.

The politician also informed that the Ambassador of the Great Britain, representatives of Swedish and US embassies were present in the court. “They saw and hear, how statements by Yarmoshyna and other representatives of the authorities about democratization of the electoral process could be viewed,” – Liabedzka said.