Klimov to remain behind bars; court rejects lawyer's appeal
The Minsk City Court on October 2 rejected a lawyer's appeal in the case of opposition politician Andrei Klimov, reports Belapan. On August 1, 2007 the Central District Court found Klimov guilty of having made public calls to overthrow the government or to use violence in order to change the constitutional order with the use of the media. The politician was sentenced to two years in a high security prison.
The charges were based on an article which the politician had posted on the web site of the United Civil Party.
The today's hearing of the Minsk City Court was held behind the closed doors in the absence of Klimov. His interests were represented by lawyer Vliantsina Lyatun and wife Tatsiana Leanovich.
The lawyer said that the verdict comes into force after the appeal rejection. But Klimov can appeal the ruling with the chairman of the Minsk City Court. The politician was arrested on April 3, 2007, two months after the publication of his article in which he criticized the regime of Alexander Lukashenka.
Klimov had spent two terms behind bars: 1998-2002 (allegedly for embezzlement); 2005-2006 (for leading the street protests against the results of the 2005 referendum that allowed Lukashenka to stay for the third term in office).
Amnesty International recognizes Andrei Klimov as a prisoner of conscience.
The charges were based on an article which the politician had posted on the web site of the United Civil Party.
The today's hearing of the Minsk City Court was held behind the closed doors in the absence of Klimov. His interests were represented by lawyer Vliantsina Lyatun and wife Tatsiana Leanovich.
The lawyer said that the verdict comes into force after the appeal rejection. But Klimov can appeal the ruling with the chairman of the Minsk City Court. The politician was arrested on April 3, 2007, two months after the publication of his article in which he criticized the regime of Alexander Lukashenka.
Klimov had spent two terms behind bars: 1998-2002 (allegedly for embezzlement); 2005-2006 (for leading the street protests against the results of the 2005 referendum that allowed Lukashenka to stay for the third term in office).
Amnesty International recognizes Andrei Klimov as a prisoner of conscience.
