A well recognised for his work by the international community human rights defender was charged according to Article 130 of the Belarusian Criminal Code: instigating racial, national or religious enmities. During the investigation one more charge, slander of the president of Belarus (Art. 367 CC), was dropped as unsubstantiated. Leanid Svetsik pleaded not guilty as he considered this case to be a revenge for his active civil position.
On behalf of the Human Rights House Network, more than 30 human rights organisations from different parts of the world signed a letter in support of their Belarusian colleague. Some other prominent human rights organisations, including the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights House Foundation, Front Line, and Viasna, have issued statements with demands on the Belarusian authorities either to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation and to hold a fair trial or to release Mr Svetsik immediately.
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From the address of Leanid Svetskik to Belarusian human rights defenders during a training within a framework of the program “International Law in Advocacy” (3-9 May, Ukraine)
Dear colleagues!
Today Belarusian civil society finds itself in a difficult search of new relations between people in the society, including interactions with the state. The state for Belarusians was and remains as an alien, removed, powerful and punitive instrument. An individual human being, her or his rights and freedoms, and, oftentimes, even life means nothing to it.
Human rights, as a field, are in the process of establishing and developing itself. However, there are brave women and men, who consider human rights to be of the absolute value to them. And for these values they are willing to continue a relentless fight, sacrificing certain personal gains in their name.
At the forefront of this fight there are philanthropists, lawyers, scholars, and journalists – those who consider themselves to be human rights defenders. […]
Human rights defenders are people who made a conscious choice to always be between authorities and people, as shields and mediators. And no matter who is in power they will always remain here, in their role and place. Abuses will be in any kind of regime. They simply will; this is the nature of power.
That is why for us, human rights defenders, there always be plenty of work. No matter who is in power and regardless of our personal attitudes and feelings towards this person or individuals. It is what we, as human rights defenders, are suppose to do: step by step, year by year, to change situation and untie knots and problems related to Human Rights, thoroughly and systematically. […]
Leanid Svetsik
