BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
05/02/2008
Belarusian Activists Set Up Committee To Defend Young Oppositionist
Belarusian opposition politicians and civil-society activists on February 4 set up a civic committee for the defense of Andrey Kim, against whom the authorities recently began criminal proceedings, Belapan and RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported. Kim was sentenced to 10 days in jail for his participation in a unsanctioned January 21 demonstration against the government's restrictions on businesses activities, but has not been released after serving his term. The authorities have charged Kim with hitting an officer during police attempts to take control over the crowd of protesters on January 21. The article under which Kim is charged provides for a prison sentence of up to six years. "Kim's case is politically motivated," said Andrey Bondar, one of the committee's members, adding that this is "the revenge of the government and of Interior Minister Uladzimir Navumau in particular for the scare that the entrepreneurs' protest gave them." Politician Pavel Sevyarynets said that the authorities launched the criminal proceedings against Kim even as "statements [were made] about a softening of the regime in Belarus." "Such statements are false.... The intimidation of society in Belarus has actually gotten worse and the so-called thaw is merely window-dressing for other countries," Sevyarynets said. "I believe that truthful coverage of the case of Andrey Kim and other opposition activists will help them avoid criminal conviction," he added. AM
Source:
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/02/3-cee/cee-050208.asp
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