To: Anatoly Dudkin, Prosecutor of the Mogilev region
FAX: 375-222-257-355

Cc: Svyataslav Kurel, Director of Internal Affairs, Mogilev branch
FAX: 375-222-395-101

February 15, 2000

Dear Mr. Dudkin,

The International League for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization with consultative status at the United Nations, is concerned about the criminal case against Dmitri Obodovsky, the son of Sergei Obodovsky, an opposition activist. Dmitri has been held in detention for nearly seven months.

Dmitri was arrested last spring and has been held in pre-trial detention since then. He was initially charged with rape and then later with theft, both charges which he denies. The trial began yesterday at which time the judge granted a one-week extension (until February 21) in order for the defense to review the charges, which have been changed during the course of Dmitri's detention and currently remain unclear to the public. The judge denied the defense's request that Dmitri be released during the trial.

The League fears that the charges against Dmitri Obodovsky may be in retaliation for the opposition activities of his father, Sergei Obodovsky, the director of the Mogilev Human Rights Center and a lawyer at the Mogilev branch of the Free Trade Union. Dmitri was arrested just after Sergei was elected to the opposition electoral commission of last spring's opposition-organized presidential elections. Sergei's other two sons have also faced harassment in recent months. One was forced to seek political asylum in Poland, while the other, a student at the Mogilev State University, faces charges of computer hacking (komputernoe khuliganstvo).

The League urges you to immediately cease harassment of Sergei Obodovsky and his family for his opposition and trade union activities. More specifically, the League calls on you to release Dmitri from detention during the trial, ensure that he has access to lawyers of his choosing and that the trial proceeds in an open and fair manner.

Thank you for your attention. We await your response.

Sincerely,

Catherine Fitzpatrick
Executive Director