Svetsik: It would have been easier to serve a sentence rather than pay such a fine
A Vitsebsk human rights activist Leanid Svetsik has been fined for 31 million 500 thousand roubles (more than 11 thousand dollars). He will have to pay 1 more million to the head of Vitsebsk affiliate of the State Union of Writers Tamara Krasnova-Husachenka as a compensation of moral damage. Talking to ERB, the activist noted that it was a very strict punishment pronounced by the authorities. Svetsіk: “The fine is impossible to pay as I am jobless, my wife does not work and I have two minor children. It would have been easier for me to serve a sentence in prison rather than be fined for such a sum”.
Let us remind you that the public prosecutor demanded to imprison Svetsik in a colony for two years. Svetsik was accused of having sent letters containing threats addressed to Vitsebsk opposition members and signed by Russian Neo-Nazis. The majority of victims claimed that they did not believe the human rights activist was guilty. Leaned Svetsik has not pled guilty and is going to appeal the court decision.
Let us remind you that the public prosecutor demanded to imprison Svetsik in a colony for two years. Svetsik was accused of having sent letters containing threats addressed to Vitsebsk opposition members and signed by Russian Neo-Nazis. The majority of victims claimed that they did not believe the human rights activist was guilty. Leaned Svetsik has not pled guilty and is going to appeal the court decision.
