Activist Ales Chakholski Teaches Judge Good Manners

The Kurapaty defender demonstratively left the court hall after they had refused to conduct the trial in Belarusian.

Judge of the Frunzenski district court of Minsk Andrei Mlechka refused to carry out the trial in the Belarusian language or to invite an interpreter, having said that “ordinary citizens should know both state languages”, Radio Liberty reports.

An administrative trial is going on in the Frunzenski district court of Minsk against activist Aliaksandr Chakholski – he is charged with “participation in a non-sanctioned demonstration” on the defense of Kurapaty, which took place on March 3, under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code.

The Minsk city court abolished the decision of the Frunzensky district court dated March 28, when Chakholski was fined for 30 base fees, and sent the case for a new investigation.

On July 12, Chakholski came to the Frunzenski district court, but the judge refused to conduct the process in Belarusian or to call an interpreter.

"During the trial, I, a citizen of Belarus, in the Belarusian state was denied the trial in the Belarusian language. I filed a petition: if a judge who is a civil servant does not know the Belarusian language, he must call an interpreter. Judge Mlechka went to consult, and returned in 15 minutes.

You know, they have reached an unbeliavable level of cynicism: he judge declined my petition on the grounds that I, an ordinary citizen of the Republic of Belarus, should know two state languages! And he, a judge, a civil servant, therefore, is not obliged to know both official languages and respond in the language he is addressed to, right?

I refused to participate in the trial, made them record the judge's wording, noted that the Constitution was grossly violated and my national pride was humiliated. "

Ales Chakholski wrote a complaint to the court and wants to bring Judge Andrei Mlechka to criminal liability for insulting the national dignity. The trial continued without Chakholski.