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.