Belarusian democratic society is indignant with the courts’ decision to punish Aliaksandr Kazulin, the former candidate for presidency, with 5,5 years of prison. He was convicted of hooliganism and incitement to mass disorder during March 2006 events. HRC “Viasna” considers the conviction of one of alternative candidates a politically-motivated decision and expresses vigorous protest against this judgement.(14-JUL-06)


Viasna’s statement on Kazulin’s conviction

Human Rights Center Viasna expresses vigorous protest against the judgement passed on Aliaksandr Kazulin, professor, head of Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada), ex-candidate for president in the 2006 election.

We consider the conviction of one of alternative candidates a politically-motivated decision.

Human Rights Center Viasna is sorry to state that under the circumstances when there is no independent judicial system in Belarus, Kazulin faced legal lynching resulting in 5.5 yers of imprisonment.

One of the reasons for the conviction was the accusal of organizing and implementing a peaceful action of protest on March 25 2006 in the center of Minsk, which ended in a violent usage of force and special means by interior forces and the police. Dozens citizens were injured and detained.

The other reason for the decision was the accusal of hooliganism – he broke Lukashenka’s portrait in a police station on March 2, 2006. On the same day Kazulin was violently beaten by Belarusian special forces with colonel Pauliuchenka at head for trying, as a presidential candidate, to attend the All-Belarusian Congress, organized by another candidate A.Lukashenka. Moreover, neither the General Prosecutor’s Office nor the judge Aliaksei Rybakou provided any legal estimate on the special forces’ actions.

Taking into consideration that the judge Aliaksei Rybakou did not take any steps to establish the issue, nor did he take any measures to stop humiliating Aliaksandr Kazulin, Human Rights Center Viasna calls on the EU and the US governmental bodies to immediately add Aliaksei Rybakou to the travel ban list.

Human Rights Center Viasna urges the Belarusian authorities to overturn the decision of the court and release Aliaksandr Kazulin.

Human Rights Center Viasna demands that all the Belarusian officials follow the Constitution and the Laws of Belarus, and stick to the principles of human rights protection.

Human Rights Center Viasna intends to take all the possible measures, so that the unlawful actions of Belarusian authorities could receive adequate evaluation by the international community and the independent and fair justice of the Republic of Belarus.

Human Rights Center Viasna                             Minsk, 14.07.2006