Uladzimir Nilakliaeu’s Property Could Be Distrained For Unpaid Fees

The Minsk court declined the politician’s application for installments to pay fines for protest actions.

Uladzimir Niakliaeu, a poet and a politician, a former presidential candidate in the "elections" of 2010, faces property inventory if he does not immediately pay more than Bn 3,335 ($ 1,755) to cover the fines for participating in protest actions in 2016-2017, Radio Liberty reports.

On July 20, the Leninski district court of Minsk denied Uladzimir Niakliaeu in installments of payment of fines, and even, as the poet-politician claims, did not explain the reasons.

I asked them for a delay for at least six months, because I really don’t have such money now - it's more than 10 of my pensions. Judge Yulia Kaviaka seemingly listened to me, left the court hall to make a decision, maybe she consulted with someone or not, but she made such a resolution! Why? In any society, an independent court, when it considers a state’s dispute with a citizen, will defend the interests of the citizen, since they are helpless before the state.

And when there is no reason to take the side of the state, it will take the side of the citizen. In our country, the opposite is true. There was never ever a decision in favor of a citizen, when a state sued them. Even in small things. It would have costed nothing to the state if the court helped the citizen to soften the situation a little. Non-payment was out of the question, the matter was all about installments. But no. It is obvious that even in such a small thing, the court cannot make a decision independently. This leave of the judge to the so-called meeting in the advisory room was, apparently, aimed at clarifying: not to provide installments, or provide? They didn’t".

According to Uladzimir Niakliaeu, for 2016-2017 he paid 7 out of 10 fines imposed on him for taking part in opposition rallies, including for the current spring rallies against the tax on "social parasites" in Minsk, the May Day demonstration and other actions.

"The last 3 fines were all the maximum - 50 base fees, then Bn 1150. So they remain unpaid. Politics turns out to be golden for me, but what can I do? "- Uladzimir Niakliaeu said.

According to the law, Uladzimir Niakliaeu can appeal against the decision of the Leninski district court, but the politician thinks that he will not do this, because he does not see the point.

"Only the loss of health and nerves," – Uladzimir Niakliaeu told.

Now, Niakliaeu is waiting for the court executors to come and distrain his property any day.

"The matter cannot be delayed; the paper has already come into force. I will somehow borrow money," - the politician said.