Salash fined for libeling precinct commission
- 11.09.2008, 8:55
On September 10 in Barysau a trial over a member of the Belarusian Popular Front party Syarzhuk Salash was held. Regime’s representatives have charged him with libeling.
This year Syarhei Salash ran in the “parliamentary elections”, but again, like in 2004, and then in 2007, he faced counteraction from election commission. While 4 years ago Syarzhuk Salash pressed the CEC and managed to be registered, during the last year’s campaign he was arrested. This year Salash hasn’t been allowed to take part in the “election campaign”: the secretary of the election commission No. 62 Mrs. Stasava and a deputy chairman of the regional executive committee Mrs. Shutko have accused him of libel. On September 10 in the evening the court took place in Barysau.
“I have been fined 25 basic units. Actually, I expected a punishment like this. The case doesn't hold water. And new cases have been added. Mr. Milinkevich was as a witness of my alleged statements about the two ladies from Barysau vertical of power hadn’t been invited. However, a summons with a fake signature of Milinkevich was demonstrated. When I called him immediately, I found out that the writ hadn’t been brought to him. I asked the court to be postponed to the morning. Then Alyaksandr could arrive to Barysau. However, that question hadn’t been even considered. However, one of the applicants, a deputy chairman of the regional executive committee, she was absent at all, she sent a telegram that she should be present at some session in Minsk…
The persons who are her subordinates were allowed to have their say. However, words of my other witness, lawyer Aleh Matskevich, were neglected, as one could expect. As a result, everything was “proved”. We shall challenge the verdict. But certainly, there is no hope that I would be declared not guilty, as all questions in this country connected with the “elections”, would be always won by representatives of the regime,” Syarhei Salash said to “Radio Svaboda”.