Echo of “elections”: Oppositionist tried for leaflets about boycott

At the end of November Svyatlana Danilava, a well-known distributor of the independent press from Barysau, received by mail the verdict of the Pershamaiski district court of Minsk by which she was fined of 20 basic units for distribution of pre-electoral leaflets with calls to boycott.

The verdict it also states that she had not come to the trial, Viasna human rights center reports.

Svyatlana Danilava was detained on 21 September while handing out boycott leaflets. She was guarded to the Pershamaiski district militia department and kept there for about 15 hours. A report on administrative offence was drawn against her. Later the report was submitted to the procuracy of the Barysau district. When the human rights activist tried to find what punishment she could receive as a result of it, the procurator’s aide said that no decision had been taken and that she did not need to go there.

Two months after the detention the judge of the Pershamaiski district court of Minsk Ananich ruled to fine the 70-year-old distributor of free press with a huge fine of 20 basic units, for alleged violation of part 3 of article 23.34 of the Administrative Code. The court did everything possible to prevent the woman from coming to the trial. She did not even receive a writ to it. However, in the verdict it is cynically stated that she” did not come to the trial”.

This outrageous case was instigated against the distributor of the independent press in the time when the Belarusian government is making its humble attempts to “democratize the society and judicial systems”. Examples of atavistic lawlessness towards individuals seem to continue stirring up the civilized world.