28 March 2024, Thursday, 19:21
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Homel-based human rights defender Sudalenka to stand trial

Homel-based human rights defender Sudalenka to stand trial

Human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka must visit the Homel customs office to face administrative charges.

He learnt from a summons, which was delivered to him by a postman, that he is a “person involved in the administrative process”, the Homel office of Viasna human rights centre reports.

Leanid Sudalenka says he was given only an hour to get prepared, so he decided not to go anywhere.

“I will have to contact the customs office in written and remind them that besides the right to hire a lawyer and the right to get prepared for defence I also have the right to have a journalist. People should know how customs officers fulfil 'delicate orders' of border guards on the state border. It will be interesting to learn why border guards show a strange reaction to my passport. They scan it and call a chief officer, who takes the passport and goes away. Customs officers then hide their eyes and use, without any explanations, the 'exceptional measure of customs control' – a personal search. They order me take off my trousers, and then seize my laptop,” the human rights defender from Homel says how he crossed the border.

Leanid Sudalenka has faced two personal searched on the border for the last few months. Customs officers seized his laptop during the first search. During the second search, he was dragged out of the train after he had refused to obey illegal orders to get off the train. He will stand trial now.

He may face a fine up to 9 million rubles or a term in custody of up to 15 days for refusal to obey a legal order of an official.

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