Minsk bar association refused to punish its colleagues

Minsk bar association has refused to punish its colleagues despite of the accusations of the Justice Ministry.

The Justice Ministry of Belarus has made a recommendation concerning four lawyers who work with the cases of persons charged with mass riots on December 19. It is known that one of them was Pavel Sapelka, the advocate of the presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov. The reason for the appeal of the Justice Ministry were lawyers’ indignation, as they cannot meet with their clients, and their criticism of the judicial system. Officials demanded to bring them to disciplinary responsibility.

However, as the chairman of Minsk city bar association Alyaksandr Pylchanka told to “Nasha Niva”, the bar has not found out facts of violations in the activities of their colleagues.

Besides, officials said Pavel Sapelka’s remaining a member of the presidium of Minsk city bar is inadvisable. However, the bar has not received a relevant report about that.

We remind that former presidential candidates Mikalai Statkevich, Andrei Sannikov, Ales Mikhalevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu have not been seen by their lawyers since December 29-30. The same concerns the other accused in the “mass riots” case.

It was anything but an easy decision to say no to the Justice Ministry in response to its ultimatum demand to apply sanctions against the lawyers. Colleagues of the political prisoners’ lawyers have demonstrated civic courage.