BELARUSIAN LIBERALIZATION: you distribute anti-crisis program, we fine you

07.07.2009. Tags: administrative trials, freedom of expression, Hrodna, fines.
Source: mfront.net.

Judge of Leninski district court of Hrodna A.Bialinski fined the members of Hrodna branch of the Young Front Yauhen Hatalski and Yauhen Shvaba 175 000 rubles for distribution of leaflets with anti-crisis program.

Raman Shvaba commented: ‘Our case was considered for about 15 minutes only. The policemen who acted as witnesses were not those who had detained us. I said that there were thousands of advertisement leaflets posted all around the city and nobody was ever detained for it. The judge started giving a lecture. He said that I’d rater helped in cleansing the streets and taking care after war veterans. He also said that we should expect letter to the places of study.’

‘At first, when we were detained, the police did not consider these leaflets as political, because there were just pieces of advice on overcoming the difficulties that were connected to the crisis. However, the higher instances started making accent on politics. We were taken to the police station and fingerprinted. Then we were released, but were told to expect writs to court,’ said the Young Front member Yauhen Hatalski.

Recently Mr. Hatalski had a talk with the administration of his polytechnic. The talk took place with participation of representatives of the local ‘ideological vertical’, the KGB and the administration of the educational establishment. The student was warned about the possibility of expulsion and that the final decision on this issue would be taken by the appropriate commission in August.

The leaflet included the following anti-crisis proposals:

1. Economy – during the crisis the state and the local authorities should cut the unnecessary expenses (on ice palaces, nuclear power stations, agrarian settlements, security services, Stalin’s lines, pompous state celebrations, etc.).

2. Charity – during the crisis more wealthy Belarusians have the opportunity to help the poor, children, disabled and orphans.

3. Liberalization – decrease of taxes, freeing the business initiative, reduction of bureaucracy and guarantees of the immunity of personal assets.