Sanctions on Zhemchuzhny Upheld

Mikhail Zhemchuzhny still considered "inclined to extremism".

On January 12 at the meeting chaired by Anatol Karpovich Judicial Chamber on Civil Cases of the Minsk Regional Court considered a cassation appeal of convicted civil rights activist Mikhail Zhemchuzhny against improper, in his view, sanction on the part of the colony administration and ordered the Barysau district court to interview Zhemchuzhny and witnesses one more time, BelaPAN informs.

It is noted that Zhemchuzhny was not present at court, as well as a representative of the colony.

It is stated that on July 20, 2016 a representative of Navasady correctional facility No. 14 deprived Zhemchuzhny of other short visit, because he had no escort officer next to him when being in other sector of the colony.

In his complaint the civil rights activists noticed that that was not true and asked to cancel the sanction, as well as the decision of Barysau district court from October 31, 2016 that was upheld.

According to Zhemchuzhny, the court did not take into account and did not verify information that he left the zone with an employee of the colony and left the local zone under verbal direction of the chief. Other prisoners and an orderly man can prove it, the political prisoner says.

In addition, he points at violation of the abjective law by Barysau judge, the trial was held an hour earlier that deprived him of his right of defence.

Human rights activist also noted that prisoners' rights were violated in the colony.

In return, the representative of the colony pointed out that he found the decision of the Barysau district court justified and legitimate. According to the administration, the registration of the prisoner as a person inclined to extremism and other destructive activity that led to additional regime restrictions was the reason of the appeal.

Besides, the colony believes that Zhemchuzhny "intentionally wants to discredit employees of the correctional facility".

Mikhail Zhemchuzhny who provided Platforma human rights organization with information about conditions in the prison was detained in 2014. On July 10, 2015 Vitsebsk regional court found him guilty of intentional divulgence of official secrets and bribery and sentenced to six years in a maximum security penal colony.

After consideration of the appeal in October Judicial Chamber on Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court upgraded punishment - six and a half years in prison. Belarusian human rights activists recognized Zhemchuzhny as a political prisoner.