Young Front activist warned under “political” article

• 11.02.2010, 14:34

Ivan Stasyuk, an activist of the Young Front, has received a warning from Brest regional prosecutor’s office about criminal liability under Article 193-1.

It has bee informed by the Young Front press-service. Representatives of the youth organisation does not rule out that Ivan Stasyuk’s problems with law-enforcing agencies started right after he adopted a decision to run in the local election as a candidate.

We remind that on February 6 Ivan Stasyuk was released from a remand prison. Stasyuk was detained on February 3. He was arrested for alleged participation in a mass fight, which took place in Brest on January 23. One of the witnesses allegedly recognized Stasyuk in the pictures and video provided by police.

It should be reminded that since 2000 new parties haven’t been registered in Belarus. Numerous, but fruitless attempts to become registered are made by the Belarusian Christian Democracy, the Belarusian Labour party, the Party of Freedom and Progress, and the public association the Young Front.

In the resolution adopted on January 2009 the European Parliament called upon the official Minsk to respect human rights, in particular, to make necessary changes to the Criminal Code, eliminating Articles 367, 368 and 369-1, as well as Article 193, which have been used on many occasions as a means of pressure”.

Under Article 193-1 (participation in activities of an unregistered organisation) a number of activists have been punished. Among them are Alyaksandr Shalajka, Tsimafey Dranchuk, Zmitser Dashkevich, Zmister Fedaruk, Katsyaryna Salauyova, Aleh Korban, Nasta Palazhanka and others.