Belarus Mikhail Marinich Anatoliy Lebedko

Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.
Albert Einstein, quoted in New York Times, March 13, 1940US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

Press Statement Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC December 23, 2004

Prosecution of Belarusian Opposition Figure Mikhail Marinich

On December 23, Mikhail Marinich, Belarus opposition political figure, went on trial in Minsk after being held for over 7 months on politically motivated charges. Belarusian authorities have accused Ambassador Marinich of, among other things, theft of equipment that the U.S. Government provided to his non-governmental organization "Business Initiative." The equipment has at all times remained property of the U.S., and the U.S. makes no claims against Ambassador Marinich or his organization regarding disposition of this equipment.

It is clear that the Belarus Government is prosecuting Ambassador Marinich for his political views. The current regime regrettably has done this to many other prominent Belarus opposition figures, including, most recently, Anatoliy Lebedko, who was charged with slander. We strongly condemn the flagrant abuse of the Belarus court system to persecute citizens for reason of their political beliefs. We call on the Belarusian Government to respect human and legal rights and promptly release Ambassador Marinich and other political figures who have been detained, charged and convicted on spurious charges.

2004/1399 [End]