Vintsuk Vyachorka: “There’s joint responsibility in legal system”

• 27.02.2009, 14:06

Deputy head of the Belarusian poplar Front Party Vintsuk Vyachorka commented to the Charter’97 press center on a decision of the Mink City Court that recognized lawful the draft of his son Franak into army.

“In principle, it was predictable –there is a joint responsibility in the legal system. I suppose that judges may have the remains of conscience and honour, and I foresaw that they upheld the decision of the Savetski district court, found call-up of Franak lawful,” he said.

The politician noted that judge Natallya Zhupikava, who delivered a judgement, violated rights of Franak Vyachorka yet in 2003.

“The case was considered by judge Zhupikava. She helped to close Kolas lyceum, where Franak was studying. We can see that judge Zhupikava continues violating his rights,” the BPF deputy head said.

Vintsuk Vyachorka has no doubts that the Minsk City Court knew about unlawful decision of the Savetski district court, and this violation was wilful.

“They consciously violated the law. They didn’t invite a complainant for a trial! They didn’t invited and moreover, they did their best to prevent him from going there. I think, it was a surprise for judges, when they saw a medical report saying Franak was unfit for military service. And an ophthalmologist wrote his conclusion on the next day after the medical examination, when my son was absent! It is the ophthalmologist who operated my son,” he said.

The politician told that the court hadn’t present any evidence to rebut unlawful draft – it was a clearly political decision.

“Besides, according to the law, they didn’t have a right to take Franak to army until a judgement took force... Judges were deliberating for thirty minutes. I don’t know what they could discuss, but they didn’t rebut any of my proofs. They had nothing to say against. It was a clearly political decision, we will appeal against it,” Vintsuk Vyachorka said.

It should be reminded that on February 26, the Minsk City Court upheld the decision of the Savetski district court, which recognized lawful call-up of leader of the “BPF Youth” Franak Vyachorka.

On January 16, Franak Vyachorka was forcibly detained by people in mufti in the ward of military hospital where the young man was placed for check-up. Franak was taken to the military enlistment office in handcuffs. And there he was told he is to be taken to the military unit. In the military unit officers told they had medical decision that Vyachorka is able-bodied. Earlier he had a determent due to eye surgery and some chronic diseases. In the military enlistment office Franak stated that he would lodge complain against actions of military men and doctors who had been receiving orders of people in mufti.

After that Franak Vyachorka was released. On January 19, Franak Vyachorka appealed against the actions of the military men and doctors at the draft campaign. The court informed the military enlistment office that draft is suspended before the appeal is considered in the court. But on January 28 people in mufti seized him in the street. He was beaten up by him in a car, and later in the military office. Handcuffed, he was taken to the military unit in Baranavichy. Franak Vyachorka’s parents were told that a trial had been held in absentia, and the court admitted Franak Vyachorka fit for military service.