In the evening of 1 September four political prisoners were released. All of them have been convicted of involvement in the events of 19 December. The released ones are Ales Kirkevich, Andrei Pratasenya, Dzmitry Daronin and Aleh Hnedchyk.

Previously another nine prisoners have been released: Dzmitry Drozd, Artiom Hrybkou, Siarhei Kazakou, Vasil Parfiankou, Yauhien Sakret. Vital Matsukevich, Uladzimir Yaromenak, Aliaksandr Kviatkevich.

Let us recall that the Belarusian economy is going through difficult times: it is impossible to buy foreign currency, huge queues stand next to exchange offices, consumer prices are increasing every day.

 Ex-presidential candidate Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu (pictured) believes that in order to get loans and to save the situation in the economy of Belarus, Lukashenko really needs to release political prisoners and to do so as soon as possible:

“Without that it is impossible to get out of a situation in which the country happened to be because of him I am convinced that the deadline for their release is October, and they may even attempt to do so by the end of September. That is so, because Lukashenka is interested for the Belarusian delegation or better himself, to attend the summit of “Eastern Partnership” which is scheduled for the end of September. “

Political prisoner Pavel Seviarynets (pictured), who is now serving a sentence in Pruzhany district, said that the release will take place no earlier than mid-October, after the National Assembly, planned by the opposition:

“By the logic of events, when it was promised to release the prisoners by mid-October, than the reference point is mass protests. Only when mass protests will be over, Lukashenka probably will free the most influential prisoners, those whose names are known in the West. “

Seven lawyers disbarred
Tamara Sidarenka was deprived of her legal licence on 30 August. The decision of the Qualification Commission for the advocacy of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus was approved at the board meeting of the Ministry of Justice.

 On 17 August, 2011 lawyer T. Sidarenka was supposed to pass an extraordinary certification together with the lawyers for legal advice of Leninski District of Minsk. However, without waiting for the results of the Certification Commission, Qualification Commission of the Ministry of Justice decided to cancel her license.

 During the investigation and consideration of the criminal case of events of 19 December, 2010 in court, Tamara Sidarenka defended the ex-presidential candidate Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu. She also defended former presidential candidate Ales Mikhalevich after the Ministry of Justice withdrew legal licence from his previous lawyer – A. Aheyeu.

 During the preliminary investigation the lawyer has repeatedly reported about violation of rights of Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu during the arrest as well as in custody. Tamara Sidarenka has also sought to identify and bring to justice the persons involved in the attack on Nyaklyaeu in the evening of 19 December, 2010 in Minsk before the peaceful protest. In the course of the trial the lawyer declared complete innocence of the accused and requested the judge to acquit her client.

 Earlier, a similar procedure of disbarment was applied to other lawyers who worked on the criminal case on the events of 19 December 2010. 

Following lawyers’ licences were canceld: V. Toustsik and T. Harayeu who defended I. Khalip, A. Aheyeu, who defended Ales Mikhalevich, his wife, lawyer S. Zaleuskaya, a lawyer T. Aheyeva, who also participated in the investigative activities of this criminal case.

 Advocate P. Sapelka who defended A. Sannikau was expelled from the Minsk City Bar on the proposal of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus.

Three of these attorneys (P. Sapelka, T. Aheyeva, A. Aheyeu) were members of the Board of the Minsk City Bar, the body of lawyers’ self-governance.

Earlier this year other lawyers who were involved in 19 December case were not certified to continue their legal work. Such decisions were made during the meetings of the Certification Commissions. These lawyers are: D. Lipkina, who defended M. Likhavid, A. Bakhtsina, who defended I. Khalip, and A. Burak, who defended A. Klaskouski and A. Liabedzka. All of these lawyers requested complete acquittal of their clients. However, the decision of the Qualification Commission for the advocacy of the withdrawal of their license was not made.

Thus, the number of lawyers who are unable to carry out their professional duties because of action of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus and were connected in some way with the criminal case about the events of 19 December has reached 7 people.

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