Belarusian judge asked for political asylum in Poland

• 18.11.2008, 12:19

Former chairman of the Klimavichy district court Ihar Tsishkin asked for political asylum in Poland, Belsat reports.

“Now we live in Poland, it is quiet here, we are under protection,” Ihar Tsishkin’s wife Iryna told to journalists.

The former judge asked for political asylum in Poland. He explains his action by pressure of the Belarusian authorities. He says he tried to oppose local corrupted officials, engaged in smuggling spirit to Russia. Tsishkin says officers of secret services, who threatened him several times, are involved in these illegal schemes.

Ihar Tsishkin worked as a chairman of the Klimavichy district court in 2007-2007. He was retired allegedly for violation of the law by a Lukashenka’s order on June 1, 2007. Before the order, Ihar Tsishkin and his family managed to go to Ukraine from Belarus.

Nevertheless, as Radio Svaboda correspondent Aleh Hruzdzilovich learnt from Mahilou human rights defenders, activists of the democratic movement were tried in the court headed by Tsishkin.