On May 29, 2007 Belarusian court announced verdict to the members of unregistered organization Young Front. 5 young people were under the threat of being convinced for 2 years of prison. The judge fined Zmicer Hvedaruk, Aliaksei Yanushevski, Aleg Korban and Baris Garecki and imposed the court warning to Nasta Palazhanka. Belarusian democratic society together with the international human rights movement made every effort not to let Belarus have more prisoners of conscience. (30-MAY-07)

Source www.svaboda.org ; www.spring96.org
Illustrated by www.svaboda.org

Background
Since January 2006 Criminal Code of Belarus had been completed with the articles limiting activities of civil society. In August 4 activists of “Partnership” organization were charged in “activity on behalf of the name of unregistered organization of foundation” and were sentenced for the periods from 6 months till 2 years of prison. “Partnership” activity was the organization of the observation during elections.
In September 2006 the leader of unregistered organization “Young Front” Zmicer Dashkevish was convinced for 1.5 years of prison under the same article.
In March 2007 five more members of this organization were charged under the same article of Criminal Code.

Belarusian and International support
Belarusian HR organizations appealed against this situation to the Belarusian authorities and call international society to draw attention to the HR violations in Belarus. Activists from all over the country conducted actions of support- mass hunger strike, pickets, and flash mobs. They tried to spread information about Young Front situation as inside Belarus as abroad.
International human rights organizations directed tens of appeals against Young Front members’ persecution

Verdict
Zmicer Hvedaruk, Aliaksei Yanushevski, Aleg Korban, Baris Garecki were convicted in membership of unregihvedaruk malenkistered organization and fined on amount of 433 to 578 USD. Nasta Palazhanka, wpalazhanka malenkiho is under age, received the court warning.

Zmicer Hvedaruk (on the left) is sure that this mild sentence is the result of “some kind of game between Belarusian authorities and Europe and the West. Authorities need some European or American preferences.”
Nasta Palazhanka (on the right) is also satisfied with this sentence and anyway is going to continue her activity in Yong Front.

USA Ambassador in Belarus expressed the hope that soon all the prisoners of conscience will be released   including Zmicer Dashkevish. Only then the dialogue with Belarusian authorities on bringing Belarusian legal system to the international standards will be possible.

Belarusian human rights movement expresses its appreciation to the international society for the great support .