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Alexander Lukashenko
Republic of Belarus
FAX: 375 172 26 06 10
cc:
Oleg Bozhelko
Prosecutor General
March
20, 2000
Dear
Mr. Lukashenko,
The
International League for Human Rights, an international,
non-governmental human rights organization with consultative
status at the United Nations, is writing to express
deep concern about the recent sentencing of Andrei Klimov,
a deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet, the legitimate
parliament of Belarus, to six years imprisonment and
loss of property on charges of allegedly engaging in
large-scale embezzlement and forgery.
Mr.
Klimov was arrested over two years ago and, until his
sentence on March 17, had been held in a pre-trial detention
center of the Interior Ministry since February 11, 1998.
His trial began on January 22, 1999 and was postponed
many times. Requests by the defendant's lawyers that
he be released during the trial were denied by Judge
Vera Tupik. In protest of his detention for charges
in which he claims innocence, Klimov twice went on hunger
strikes, both of which ended when his health significantly
deteriorated. On December 13, 1999, following his refusal
to leave his cell as a sign of protest, Judge Tupik
ordered that he be brought to the courtroom. He was
beaten by guards, and forcefully dragged into the courtroom
in torn clothing and without any shoes. Although he
was clearly in need of medical attention, Judge Tupik
refused the request to call an ambulance until several
hours later.
The
League believes that the trial against Mr. Klimov and
his mistreatment while in detention have been in retaliation
for his opposition to Alexander Lukashenko. Mr. Klimov
was one of the deputies of the 13th Supreme Soviet to
sign a November 1996 petition in support of impeaching
Lukashenko for violations of domestic and international
law. After the 13th Supreme Soviet was disbanded and
until his arrest, he continued to actively speak out
against the human rights and legal violations committed
by the Lukashenko regime.
The
League calls on you to use your good offices to initiate
an investigation into wrongful arrest, to accept an
appeal hearing, to ensure that Mr. Klimov is granted
a free and fair trial, and to release Mr. Klimov from
custody pending these proceedings.
Thank
you for your attention. We await your response.
Sincerely,
Catherine
Fitzpatrick
Executive Director
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