Dear Mr. Bozhelko,

The International League for Human Rights, an international non-governmental human rights organization in consultative status with ECOSOC at the United Nations, is concerned about the Belarusian authorities’ continued harassment of Vera Stremkovskaya, a lawyer and human rights advocate in Minsk.

Ms. Stremkovskaya, a Belarusian attorney who has defended political opposition members in Belarusian courts, has come under attack once again in connection with her defense of Vasily Starovoitov, the former chairman of the Rassvet collective farm, who was sentenced on May 29 to two years imprisonment on several counts including embezzlement and bribery. At the time of his sentencing, he had already been in detention since his arrest on November 11, 1997. Many observers in Belarus and abroad believe that the charges against Starovoitov were politically motivated.

In early April, as part of the court proceedings, Ms. Stremkovskaya asked the prosecution about the whereabouts of forty bottles of cognac, which were confiscated from Mr. Starovoitov’s home during a search conducted as part of the investigation into his alleged crimes. Mr. Smolentsev, the chief investigator, subsequently filed a criminal slander suit against Ms. Stremkovskaya for claiming that, with her question, she implied that he took the cognac for his own consumption.

Criminal proceedings against Ms. Stremkovskaya were temporarily halted while the Starovoitov case was in progress. But the League is concerned that these unfounded acts of harassment against her have resumed. The slander charges carry a punishment of up to three years imprisonment.

The League believes that the actions taken against Vera Stremkovskaya are in apparent retaliation for her legal defense of opposition figures. They are a violation of international conventions to which Belarus is a party. Pursuing criminal charges against Ms. Stremkovskaya, one of the only lawyers still willing to risk defending those involved in politically motivated cases, would be a short-sighted act of political repression that would lead to further criticism of Belarus’ lack of respect for international human rights standards and would certainly serve to increase Belarus’ isolation from the international community. We urge you to drop criminal proceedings against Ms. Stremkovskaya and allow her to practice her profession without interference.

Thank you for your attention. We await your comments.