“Political” trial over Artsyom Dubski started in Asipovichy

“Amnesty International” recognized the oppositional activist prisoner of conscience.

Today the hearing of the case of Artsyom Dubski, a person involved in the “Process of Fourteen”, starts in Asipovichy district court.

On April 22, 2008 Dubski was sentenced to 2 years of restraint of liberty for participation in the rally of entrepreneurs held in January of the same year in Minsk. The young activist had to leave for Ukraine as policemen issued two official warnings to him on far-fetched reasons, claiming he had violated rules of serving the sentence. Dubski was detained on February 13, 2009 in Homel on his way to Minsk, when he wanted to take part in the rally dedicated to St. Valentine’s Day. The oppositionist was taken to the remand prison in Asipovichy (where he was registered), and then transferred to the remand prison in Babrujsk. On April 15 Dubski was released under a written undertaking not to leave the place.

Today Dubski’s associates, public leaders and human rights activists came to the court hearings in Asipovichy.

It should be reminded that the “Process of Fourteen” is a criminal case under article of 342 of the Criminal Code of Belarus, instigated against participants of the peaceful protest rally of entrepreneurs, held in Minsk on January 10, 2008.

For participation in this rally the Tsentralny district court of Minsk sentenced youth activist Andrei Kim to 1.5 years in penal colony (he was released in August 2008). The rest participants of the “Process of Fourteen” – Artsyom Dubski, Alyaksei Bondar, Mikhail Kryvau, Mikhail Pashkevich, Alyaksandr Straltsou, Alyaksandr Charnyshou, Tatsyana Tsishkevich, Mikhail Subach, and Paval Vinahradau were sentenced to 2 years of restraint of liberty without sending them to special penal facilities. Minor Maksim Dashuk got 1.5 years of restraint of liberty.

Amnesty International human rights watchdog recognized the participants of the Process of 14 Prisoners of Conscience in 2009.