31 May 2001
Brest resident fined for acting on behalf of unregistered

  A judge in Brest has imposed a fine of 285,000 Belarusian rubels (over $200) on Dmitry Shimansky, a local resident, for "activity on behalf of an
unregistered organization." Mr. Shimansky was charged after the newspaper Brestsky Kuryer had published his interview about Belarusian literature and history contests organized by his group called Dzedzich.
"In the interview I clearly said that the contests were organized by a group of people, not an organization, but the judge ruled that I should be punished under the Administrative Offenses Code," Mr. Shimansky told BelaPAN. He said that the regional Justice Department has been ignoring Dzedzich's applications for registration for 12 months. Mr. Shimansky intends to file an appeal with a higher court.