Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management Pavel Latushka sent another request to the Belarusian Investigative Committee on 6 October, demanding a copy of the verdict in the “Coordination Council case.”
Latushka was convicted in absentia of “committing several crimes of an extremist nature” and on 6 March 2023 was sentenced to 18 years in a high-security penal colony. His house in Zhdanavichy was also seized.
Despite the verdict having been issued more than a year and a half ago, its copy has still not been provided, the politician notes. According to him, this violates Article 367 of the Belarusian Criminal Procedure Code, which requires that a copy of a court decision be delivered to the accused and the parties to the case no later than five days after it is announced.
In response to the latest request from the head of NAU, the Investigative Committee informed him that the inquiry had been forwarded to the Minsk City Court, while simultaneously acknowledging that it does not intend to provide a copy of the verdict. In a letter signed by the head of the Minsk investigative department, V.A. Liubanski, it is also stated that further similar requests will not be considered, and correspondence will be terminated.
Previously, the same position was expressed by the Minsk City Court. Latushka has also received no response from the state-appointed lawyer or from the Minsk City Bar Association.
According to Latushka, the authorities are effectively admitting that they are concealing the court decision and denying a citizen access to fundamental procedural information, which deprives him of the right to appeal the verdict.
The politician also reminded Belarusian authorities that, according to Article 409 of the Criminal Code, responsibility for the preservation of seized property lies with the authority that carried out the seizure. Requests regarding measures taken in this regard have likewise gone unanswered.
“This is yet another confirmation of the lawlessness and arbitrariness in Belarus. One should have no illusions and no hope that the regime will change its policy. Everything must be done to change this regime,” Latushka said.
