“Liberalisation” in action: Artsyom Dubski sentenced to a year in prison

A Young Front activist Artsyom Dubski, who had been recognized prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, was arrested in the court room of Asipovichy district court.

The oppositionist was found guilty of violation of the rules of serving the sentence (restriction of freedom). On April 22, 2008 Dubski was sentenced to 2 years of restraint of liberty for participation in the rally of entrepreneurs held in January of the same year in Minsk. The young activist had to leave for Ukraine as policemen issued two official warnings to him on far-fetched reasons, claiming he had violated rules of serving the sentence. Dubski was detained on February 13, 2009 in Homel on his way to Minsk, when he wanted to take part in the rally dedicated to St. Valentine’s Day. The oppositionist was taken to the remand prison in Asipovichy (where he was registered), and then transferred to the remand prison in Babrujsk. On April 15 Dubski was released under a written undertaking not to leave the place.

Prosecutor Lazarenka demanded a punishment of one year imprisonment. Advocate Tamara Sidarenka stated in the court that policemen from Asipovichy themselves nudged Dubski to leave Belarus. As said by her, the Young Front activist was threatened by criminal prosecution in Belarus, and in practice it turned out that policemen had “confusion” with passports. Besides, as said by the lawyer, representatives of Asipovichy police used reports when they needed that, without necessary registration.

The sentence, one year of imprisonment, was passed by judge Zhana Sharabajka.

As we have informed, the “Process of Fourteen” is a criminal case under article of 342 of the Criminal Code of Belarus, instigated against participants of the peaceful protest rally of entrepreneurs, held in Minsk on January 10, 2008.

14 its participants were sentenced to different terms of deprivation and restriction of freedom. Amnesty International human rights watchdog recognized the participants of the Process of 14 Prisoners of Conscience in 2009.

Thus it is obvious that Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s regime is not going to listen to appeals of the international community to carry out democratic reforms in the country, to release political prisoners, respect human rights and guarantee freedom of expression, meetings and associations to citizens. On the contrary, amid visits of the EU leaders to Minsk that are getting more and more often, and statements of some European politicians that the dialogue with the authorities of Belarus is necessary, political repressions in the country have intensified.

Small businessmen from Vaukavysk, political prisoners Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka, have spent half a year in the remand prison in Minsk, and are still there. Autukhovich continues his hunger strike in prison for 83 (!) days. As said by lawyer Paval Sapelka, the political prisoner has lost weight seriously, and is very weak. Every day droppers are made to him.

Today officers of the special squad Almaz arrested Luidmila Paremskaya, a dicretor of “Nika taxi-22222” firm, where Mikalai Autukhovich worked previously. Human rights activists believe that the woman was arrested with the aim to make her testify against the businessmen.

After the public learnt about humiliation and tortures the US lawyer Emanuel Zeltser and his secretary Vladlena Funk underwent in prison, one can imagine what is experienced by arrested citizens of Belarus.