Trial over Vitsebsk Young Front member

22.06.2005.

On 21 June Pershamaiski Court of Vitsebsk started to hear the administrative case against the leader of the local Young Front activists Ianis Chuchman. The young man is accused of "acting on behalf of an unregistered or un-reregistered public association".

According to the information provided by the Assembly of Non-governmental democratic organizations, the Young Front activist is accused because his name was mentioned in the independent newspaper Vitebskiy kurier.

During the hearing the court heard the evidence presented by the author of the material Tatsiana Chabatarova and the Young Front activist Kastus Kuzniatsou who underscored that they did not confirm the participation of Mr. Chuchman in this action.

Judge Valiantsina Kismiaroshkina decided to hear the local police officer Aliaxandr Kavalenka who had a pre-emptive talk with Ianis Chuchman in the law and order protection station of the Pershamaiski Board of Internal Affairs and compiled a report. All of this took place without the journalist Chabatarou, which testifies, in her opinion, to a low professional level of the law enforcement agent.

The case against the Young Front activist will continue on 29 June at 9.30. If Ianis Chuchman is found guilty of the offence, he may be fined 10 to 50 minimal salaries (from 255000 to 1275000 rubles).