Andrei Pavuk Seeks Protection In United Nations

The activist and well-known blogger filed a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee.

Well-known blogger and teacher of biology by education Andrei Pavuk from the district center of Kastrychnitski (Homel region) filed an individual complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee. At the international level, the man proves the absurdity and illegitimacy of the large fine that he was given for a one-man protest in the central square of the district center, gomelspring.org writes.

We remind that on September 19, judge of the Kastrychnitski district court Uladzimir Vasileuski considered the administrative protocol drawn up by the police against district center resident Andrei Pavuk, the creator of the popular community in social networks Rudabelskaya Pakazukha. The court fined the blogger 10 basic units for violating the order of holding mass events (Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).

"We raise two children with my wife, pay a loan for the apartment, and until recently she had worked alone. I could not find work in my specialty, I went out with a placard to the square in the heat of despair. Some teachers smiled, saying that it was outside of the box, part of them got frightened, and some of them asked: "How much did they pay you?" But not one of them wanted to change places with me," – Pavuk recalls the adventures.

The blogger believes that his "act of despair" still delivered some benefits, because three days after the "one-man protest," he was offered a job as a forester, motivated by the fact that the teaching is not well-paid, and the forestry enterprise was offering a decent salary. Now he works in the local forestry.

Human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka, who helps to defend rights at the international level, notes that Pavuk’s case is promising in terms of its consideration in the UN Human Rights Committee, as there has been the persecution of a citizen for peaceful expression of opinion.

"Any restriction of freedom must meet strictly the requirements of necessity and proportionality, it not only has to be prescribed by the law, but also has to be essential to achieve specific goals listed in the Constitution and in international treaties. This requirement has not been fulfilled in Andrei Pavuk’s case," – the lawyer says.

In his individual complaint to the UN Committee on Human Rights, in addition to violating his rights, the blogger asks to recommend to the Belarusian government to bring the national law on mass events and the decision of local officials on mass events in Kastrychnitski district in line with the country's international obligations.