Yury Lyavonau: “They give the court not a case but a pile of wastepaper”

Human rights activists think the trial over the case of entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk must be open.

The yesterday’s statement of deputy prosecutor general Viktar Konan about “complete criminal” in the case of businessmen from Vaukavysk Mikalai Autukhovich and Uladzimir Asipenka provoked a response.

Yury Lyavonau, the former suspected, who was relieved from criminal responsibility after six months in prison, thinks an official, who is not responsible for a criminal case, can’t make statements.

– In early March this year, interior minister Uladzimir Navumau said at a press conference a charge would be brought against an organized criminal group (he meant us) within two weeks. And what? He said, but didn’t do anything! Where is that criminal group? Autukhovich and Asipenka remained in prison, the rest were released without any accusation and suspicions, moreover, new persons have appeared – I mean Mikhail Kazlou. Try to imagine – a militiamen is suspected of not informing militia. Should he have informed himself about himself?

That’s ridiculous! In this context, deputy prosecutor general Konan (I hear this name for the first time – they seem to change very often their, be transferred to higher or lower posts) makes a statement on the case he is not responsible for. In our country the interior minister can’t answer for his words, but in this case we deal with only a deputy prosecutor, even if it is a prosecutor general. I don’t believe his words, not a bit. How can a prosecution agency say about submitting the case to court, if the investigator hasn’t closed it yet? If the investigator refused to continue the case?

It is possible in theory, though very unlikely. Who did give him the right to comment on the case he is not responsible for? Where from does he have information, if he bears no relation to the case? Do they discuss every case in the prosecutor’s office?

Taking into account the questions I’ve raised, this statement is baloney, a forced reaction of the prosecution agency to the outrage made by the investigating bodies. Terms and clients probably press, they have to say something. So, this statement appeared. What to the case, they will give the court not a case, but a pile of wastepaper. This wastepaper can’t be send even to recycling center, only to dump, because it stinks. It stinks with the bog, where the Belarusian justice system has found itself in,” Lyavonau told in an interview to “Belorusski Partizan”.

An authorized representative of the Autukhoviches Aleh Vouchak is also indignant. The lawyer states that the statement of the deputy prosecutor general affected all Afghan War veterans.

– We don’t see criminal in this case. In any case, in activity of Mikalai Autukhovich and Uladzimir Asipenka. The prosecutors don’t say who and when will pay compensation to the people, who were thrown into prison on the same accusation. Why do they keep silence? Prosecutors will have to answer for this...

The criminal case is based on evidence of one person – Alyaksandr Laryn. Laryn will say tomorrow that Autukhovich (or any other person) prepared a terroristic act against Lukashenka, so, a new criminal case will be instigated? We tried to find out who is Laryn for the last two days.

Laryn was born in Nalchyk, he’s Russian. He got in Belarus in a very strange and obscure way. He received Belarusian citizenship two months before the arrest.

There is information that Laryn can be involved in affairs in Nagorno-Karabakh in 1988–89. He probably took part in combat operations against federal troops. We tried to find out why this man is so active, who has caught him on the hook. We have no doubts that it’s the hook of the law enforcement agencies.

We offer the investigation to carry out an open trial soem where in a cinema hall, for example. There should be cameras, witnesses for the prosecution shouldn’t wear masks, should say their real names. Then we will be able to see where criminal exists.

I would call this case a horror story. This is revenge for the corruption revealed by Autukhovich and Asipenka. This is the only reason for instigation of this case, Aleh Vouchak said.