Human rights activist from Salihorsk sentenced to 2.5 years of work release facility

• 4.03.2009, 15:40

The court of the Salihorsk district delivered a judgement in a criminal case against human rights activist Yana Palyakova on March 3.

The human rights activist was tried under part 2 of article 400 of the Criminal Code of Belarus “false accusation”.

The trial was attended by representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Leanid Markhotka and Valer Shchukin. The court sentenced Y. Palyakova to two years and six months of restraint of liberty (work release facility), and ordered to compensate for moral damage of 1 million rubles to injured district militia officer Puhachou, who has recently retired.

It should be reminded that last November a case of prosecution of Salihorsk human rights activist Yana Palyakova by law enforcement agencies drew much attention of the public. Yana Palyavikova said she was repeatedly detained by militia for her political activity. The woman was beaten in militia station, and militiamen almost broke her arm. It’s worth adding that Yana Palyakova was a member of the initiative group of Volha Kazulina at the latest parliamentary elections.