One more political prisoner released

25.05.2007.

Today a human rights activist Katsyaryna Sadouskaya has been released from Homel women prison. As we have informed, the human rights activist had been sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment in a minimum-security correctional labor facility for a demands to Alyaksandr Lukashenka to undergo mental examination, and for alleged insult of judges.

A 60-year-old Katsyaryna Sadouskaya is the head of the Belarusian branch of Pskov regional civil movement “Veche”. The human rights activist many times organized pickets with a demand to respect human rights in Belarus. She was present at trials, helped people who addressed her in search of defense of their rights in the prosecutor’s office and in the police. Sadouskaya was arrested and fined for human rights activities many times.

First Katsyaryna Sadouskaya was charged with alleged insult of a judge of Kirauski district court and threatened her. The reason for bringing up a criminal action was a record of an automatic answering device of the judge. The voice at the record insults the judge and mentions the name of Sadouskaya who defended Mr. Smailau at the trial last year carried out by that judge. A letter with threats and condemnations received by the judge by post has been attached to the files of the case.

In the end of investigative actions Katsyaryna Sadouskaya was charged with insult of honour and dignity of Alyaksandr Lukashenka. The reason for that was an address of an organization signed by Sadouskaya of January 21, 2006. In the address the human rights activist demanded mental examination of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, called upon boycott of the presidential elections and charged Russian secret services of support of the Belarusian government.

Sadouskaya’s family is worried about her health. She is suffering from diabetes. She had a difficult operation not long before the arrest. Katsyaryna Sadouskaya’s husband, Viktar, is a disabled person.
Source: www.charter97.org