Belarus rights activist on trial on tax charges

02 November 2011 - 16:22 By REUTERS
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Dollar roll. File photo.
Dollar roll. File photo.

A leading Belarus human rights activist went on trial on Wednesday for tax evasion in a case for which neighbouring EU members Poland and Lithuania supplied information about bank accounts and unwittingly helped his prosecution.

The case of Ales Belyatsky, who heads the Vesna-96 rights organisation in the former Soviet republic, led to a public apology in August by Poland and also caused high-level embarrassment in Lithuania.

The two countries gave information about the bank accounts in response to a request by financial authorities in Belarus.

Vesna-96 says the arrest and prosecution of Belyatsky, 49, is politically motivated and part of a clampdown on the opposition to authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belyatsky, who was held in a metal cage in a Minsk courtroom when his trial opened on Wednesday, could face seven years in jail if convicted of failing to declare "large-scale income".

Scores of fellow rights activists turned out for the start of the trial, mingling with Western diplomats and members of the opposition in the courtroom.

Vesna-96 says the money held by Belyatsky in Poland and Lithuania belonged to the organisation and was set aside for paying for human rights activities and supporting political prisoners and their families.

Belarus imposes tough restrictions on the financing of non-governmental organisations and their activities that virtually rule out any financial help from abroad.

Vesna-96 is the best known rights group in Belarus and has played an active part in supporting scores of opposition activists who were prosecuted after rallying against Lukashenko's re-election last December.

"This is a purely political trial. It is retribution for human rights activity. Belyatsky, under the conditions in Belarus, had no other choice. He had to resort to keeping money for human rights activity on personal accounts abroad," Oleg Gulak of Belarus's Helsinki committee told Reuters.

Poland apologised for what it said was a "reprehensible mistake" in the case and dismissed two prosecutors responsible for providing information that helped Belarus detain Belyatsky.

It was an additional embarrassment for Poland in that it holds the European Union's rotating presidency until the end of the year and has been in the forefront of efforts to help shape the bloc's policy towards its eastern neighbours.

The EU and the United States introduced travel restrictions and other sanctions against Lukashenko and other officials after he secured a fourth term in office in a December 2010 vote widely criticised as rigged.

Europe's top human rights watchdog says Minsk is systematically persecuting the opposition and civil society while gagging the media.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now