Civil society activists petition prosecutor general to drop criminal charge against Polish community member Jaskiewicz

Civil society activists on February 7 sent an open letter to Prosecutor General Pyotr Miklashevich, urging him to stop the criminal prosecution of Mieczyslaw Jaskiewicz, a Warsaw-backed activist of the Polish community in Belarus.

The trial of Mr. Jaskiewicz is scheduled to take place in Hrodna's Kastrychnitski District Court on February 9.

On January 23, a judge of the Court postponed the trial to January 30 after some witnesses failed to show up. The trial did not start on January 30 either because the judge was said to be ill.

“We're deeply convinced that this criminal case is politically motivated and is a continuation of a series of provocations that have been organized by law enforcement agencies against the democratically elected leadership of the UBP [Union of Belarusian Poles] for two years now,” the letter reads. “Mieczyslaw Jaskiewicz's decency and adherence to principles are proved by his 20-year-long activities in the field of Polish revival in Belarus and are beyond all doubt. We don't believe that Jaskiewicz could have committed a crime.”

The letter bears the signatures of journalists Andrey Dynko and Mikalay Markevich, human rights defenders Lyudmila Hraznova, Tatsyana Protska and Ales Byalyatski, writer Uladzimir Arlow, philosopher Valyantsin Akudovich, rock musician Lyavon Volski, and filmmaker Yuryy Khashchavatski.

“By publishing this letter, we put our hopes on public opinion rather than the prosecutor general,” Mr. Markevich told BelaPAN. “We'll also make some steps so that this letter will be attached to the case and the judge will know whom she tries and on what charge.”

Mr. Jaskiewicz, a close ally of Anzelika Borys who is regarded by the Polish government as the legitimate leader of the UBP, faces a disorderly conduct charge under Article 339 of the Criminal Code. He was arrested by police at a trolleybus stop in Hrodna on November 5, 2006 for allegedly having caused an affray. He was released two days later and ordered to appear on summons for questioning as a suspect.

If found guilty as charged, Mr. Jaskiewicz may face community service, a fine or a prison term of up to two years.

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