Lawyer Kavaleuskaya barred from leaving Belarus for “draft evasion”

The lawyer defended Andrei Sannikov in court.

“My family was going to Vilnius by car for a couple of days,” Kavaleuskaya says. “I took a leave from work for his purpose.”

Maryna Kavaleuskaya was told on the border she was on the travel banned list and received an appropriate stamp in her passport. She wasn't given any reasons, Nasha Niva newspaper reports.

“I link the incident only to the cases I handle,” the woman says. “I am only engaged in legal practice, nothing else.”

She says she travelled outside Belarus two months ago without problems.

“I have no lawsuits against me. I am not liable for military service. I have absolutely no idea on what grounds I was not allowed to go abroad.”

Maryna Kavaleuskaya says she informed the Minsk City Bar about the incident and asked for assistance in solving the issue.

Kavaleuskaya is a lawyer of presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov.

The list of persons banned from leaving Belarus appeared in March 2012. Politicians, human rights activists and journalists were put on the list.

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Lawyer's husband Valery Kavaleuski posted on Facebook  the ban was imposed for “draft evasion”. Kavaleuski underlines his wife is not liable for military service and adds a decision on the travel ban was signed on March 5, 2012.