Sum of Absurd Claims to European March Organizers Reaches 10 Million Rubles

12.03.2008. Tags: administrative trials, actions, political persecution, Milinkevich, European March, Ivashkevich, Liabedzka.

Yesterday Savetski district court of Minsk continued the hearings on the suit of the Horremautador state enterprise against the organizers of the European March action which took place on 14 October 2007. The enterprise demands from the defendants Yauhen Afnahel, Zmitser Fedaruk, Viktar Ivashkevich, Anatol Liabedzka, Aliaksandr Milinkevich and Vintsuk Viachorka 2 135 974 rubles (about 993 US dollars) for additional expenditures on cleaning the streets and removal of litter.

However, as it was found in court, several more capital’s enterprises filed suits against the organizers of the European March. The most interesting thing is that all these suits follow the same model, as if they were written on a single example.

Thus, Tsentralny district housing economy of Minsk is seeking 673 870 rubles in damages to dwelling houses and yards;
Savetski district housing economy – 951 088 rubles in damages to dwelling houses, facades and bulletin boards;
Leninski district housing economy – 239 697 rubles for a damaged rainwater pipe on house in Nezalezhnastsi Avenue, 22, though the exact time when the pipe was damaged is unknown;
Pershamaiski district Remautador – 1 328 761 rubles for cleaning Surhanau, Kolas and Bahdanovich Streets (did they clean the streets twice?);
Minskzelianbud enterprise – 1 433 798 rubles for trampling of withered grass on lawns, broken tree and bushes near the river of Svislach.

So, the total sum of the claims to the organizers of the European March reached 10 million rubles (4 650 US dollars). The authorities evidently develop a new mechanism for pressurizing the opposition.

‘In the European countries citizens don’t have to pay to the state for realization of their constitutional rights. It is a duty of the authorities to guarantee these rights. These claims again demonstrate the scorn of the Belarusian authorities to the rights of the citizens and violate the international standards of human rights,’ stated the human rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovich.