Activist from Byalynichy fined for article about corruption

The court of the Byalynichy district issued a fined of 50 penalty units to Valery Vusik from the village of Lebyadzyanka on February 29.

He was accused of defamation of Pyotr Byalou, the head of Lebyadzyanka agricultural production cooperative, and distributing the independent newspaper Mogilevski Vybor. The trial was conducted by chairman of the Byalynichy district court Uladzimir Huz. The court secretary was Tamara Ihnatovich, Viasna human rights centre reports.

The court heard two reports of administrative offences made by district inspector Syarhei Karytkin. Earlier, the court refused to hear the reports, as they were drawn up in violation of article 10.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Both were sent back to the Byalynichy police department for revision.  

At the beginning of the trial judge Uladzimir Huz ordered Mahilou human rights activist Barys Bukhel to leave the courtroom allegedly for violating the trial procedures after issuing three warnings.

The Byalynichy district court denied Valery Vusik's motion for a lawyer.

The court also ignored the written statements of some Lebyadzyanka residents, who confirmed that the violations in the activity of the agricultural production cooperative described in Valery Vusik's article in Mogilevski Vybor newspaper were true.

Judge Uladzimir Guz said the Byalynichy police had decided against initiating a criminal case against Lebyadzyanka cooperative officials, as the facts in Valer Vusik's complaints were not proved true.

The judge ignored the evidence given by editor of Mogilevski Vybor newspaper Barys Vyrvich, who said it was published in accordance with the Constitution of Belarus and the Law on Mass Media and could be distributed by any citizen without restrictions.

The court found Valer Vusik guilty of both charges and issued a fine of 30 penalty unites for “libel” against Lebyadzyanka agricultural production cooperative Pyotr Byalou and a fine of 20 basic units for violating article 17 of the Law on Mass Media and distributing Mogilevski Vybor newspaper. A total sum of the fines is 50 units or 5 million Belarusian rubles.

Valer Vusik doesn't plan to give up.

“I am found guilty without my guilt,” he said. “The court neither listened to my arguments into account, nor took into account other people's written evidence relating to violations in Lebyadzyanka cooperative. I will continue to struggle for justice. I am going to appeal against the decision of the Byalynichy district court to the Mahilou regional court.”

Photo: news.open.by