Valery Levaneuski
Encyclopedia
Valéry Levanéuski - Belarussian political and social activist, former political prisoner. Amnesty International
recognizes him as a prisoner of conscience
.
In 1979, candidate for master of sports boxing.
In 1980 began working career with work as a fitter in mechanical workshops.
From 1980 to 1982 served in the Soviet Armed Forces
. Expert of Soviet and Bulgarian Army.
1985 - 1991 – adjuster of radio electronics, mechanic of control and measuring devices and apparatus, engineer in various Grodno enterprises.
In 1991 registered as an entrepreneur. Directed Grodno regional union for protection of taxpayers’, consumers’ and drivers’ rights, Grodno information and legal center, and Grodno consumer protection center.
Since 1996, Valery Levaneuski has been under close scrutiny by the authorities and subjected to searches, confiscation of property and questioning over various charges.
Since 1996 he leads the strike committee (so-called Stachkom) of entrepreneurs of the Republic of Belarus.
He organized numerous mass protests of entrepreneurs in the Republic of Belarus that resulted in him being fined, arrested and prosecuted. He is a founder and chief editor of the “The Employer” Republican bulletin . On numerous occasions he participated in elections as a parliamentary candidate for municipal and regional legislative bodies. Every time his registration of a candidate was denied for political reasons .
In 2001 he ran for President of the Belarus Republic . He broke the slate because of the change of legislation during the elections (Decree #20 from year 2001 ).
In 2002, the strike committee led by Levaneuski organized a strike of 120,000 small traders calling for President Lukashenko
to be ousted and blaming him personally for the suppression of small businesses in Belarus.
In February 2003 Levaneuski was denied registration as candidate for Deputy.
From May 15, 2004 to May 15, 2006 - served sentence of imprisonment in a colony, with confiscation of property, under art. 368, part 2 of the Criminal Code (insult to the President of the Republic of Belarus
). Fully served a two-year prison sentence and was released on May 15, 2006.
2004-2006 – served sentence in form of confinement at general regime penal colony with confiscation of property in accordance with part 2, article 368 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (contempt of the President of the Belarus Republic). Valery Levaunevski could not be released on conditional discharge
or on amnesty
. While serving his sentence in penal colonies he was penalized in form of placing into disciplinary cell, denial of relatives' visits, and also tortures
, threat of homicide from administration of correctional facility. All of it was for the central purpose: for him to sign the public waiver of his political activity. Valery was denied of the qualified medical assistance and medical supervision during the entire term of his imprisonment. He was not allowed to appeal sanctions of prison administration in court.
Valery Levaneuski has served his entire 2-year sentence, “done” his time “from start to finish” in various prisons and colonies , including:
2010 – release of a documentary “In Government’s Hindsight” dedicated to the development of strike movement of entrepreneurs in Belarus. Valery Levaneuski, main character of the film, tells about importance and dangers of having a business in Belarus. Film was a winner of the 15th All-Polish documental watch BAZAR in Poznań
.
.
29 August 2002 - Two juvenile sons of Valery Levaneuski were arrested in Mogilev
while distributing a bulletin titled "Predprinimatel" ("The Entrepreneur") among vendors at a local outdoor market.
On 11 October 2002, Valery Levaneuski was arrested in Grodno and charged with violation of Art. 167, par. 1 ("participation in mass actions violating public order") of the Belarusian Administrative Offenses Code for holding an authorized rally in protest against recent tax increases and insurance fees for small business owners.
Overnight on February 15–16, 2003 the law-enforcers raided the Grodno house of Valery Levaneuski. The raid commenced at 10.20p.m. and ended at 00.15a.m. Valery has just returned from Minsk. The night visit was carried out with certain acts of violence, applied against Valery’s elder son Dmitry. As a result of the raid was confiscated copying machine and printed production.
In April 2003, he was arrested while delivering a petition from market traders to the parliament and subsequently sentenced to 15 days' imprisonment for taking part in the "March for a Better Life" on 12 March.
On 19 September 2004 Levaneuski’s son detained at market in Lida
for distributing news bulletin.
Because it was well known that President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko
was spending his vacation in Austria, prosecutor’s office of Belarus has later considered it as a public insult of the President.
May 1, 2004 Levaneuski was going to participate in a demonstration in Grodno that was approved by government, but in the morning he was detained upon leaving his home. Police
officials delivered him to local police department, removed his money and passport and placed him into the temporary detention facility. Same morning Levaneuski’s children were also detained, but they were released from police department several hours later .
On May 3, 2004 Valery Levaneuski was convicted to 15-day arrest. In violation of law, he was judged not in a court house, but in the cell of the temporary detention facility .
On May 3, 2004 Uladzimir Levaneuski, son of Valery Levaneuski was convicted for 13-day arrest for active participation in the 1st May protest action.
On May 7, 2004 officials of State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus
and OMON
(SWAT
) team had broken the entrance door and entered Valery Levaneuski’s apartment. Search had lasted for six hours. All of the computers were seized along with many documents and valuables . Officials of the KGB forced Levaneuski’s underaged daughter to testify against her father . On that day and during the next few days officials from the KGB had conducted searches at Levaneuski’s relatives’ houses and in the offices of non-profit organizations that might have been part of “Insult of President” case.
On May 14, 2004, one day before expiration of 15-days of arrest, Levaneuski’s detention term was increased for three days.
On May 18, 2004 Levaneuski was indicted in accordance with part 2, article 368 of Criminal code of Belarus: “Public insult of the President of the Repiblic of Belarus, conducted by a person, previously convicted for contempt or defamation, or as an incident to accusation in committal of grave or especially grave offence”. Valery was moved from temporary detention facility into the pro-trial detention center for 2 months .
June 4, 2004, for the first time since his arrest on May 1, 2004, Valery Levaneuski was allowed to meet with his wife in pro-trial detention center .
On July 12, 2004 Levaneuski’s arrest was extended for another month .
On July 21, 2004 Levaneuski’s wife addressed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko with complaints regarding conditions of her husband’s detention in pro-trial detention center .
On July 21, 2004 criminal case under article 342 of the Criminal code of Belarus “Organization of non-authorized rally”, which provides for arrest for up to 3 years, was filed against his son Uladzimir Levaneuski .
July 21, 2004 Valery Levaneuski has declare a hunger strike
in pre-trial detention center
July 27, 2004 Levaneuski suspend the hunger strike .
On July 28, 2004 Valery Levaneuski and his son were freed from the charges under article 342 of Criminal code of Belarus Republic (“Organization of non-authorized rally”) .
On August 1, 2004 famous Russian rock musicians Sergey Shnurov (band “Leningrad (band)
”) and Alexander Vasilyev (musician)
(band “Splean
”) have held a brief for Levaneuski .
On August 16, 2004 court has extended Levaneuski’ term of arrest for another month .
On September 7, 2004 court of Leninsky District of the city of Grodno had found Valery Levaneuski guilty in public insult of the President of Belarus Republic coupled to accusation in committal of grave offence, and based on part 2, article 368 of the Criminal code of Belarus Republic sentenced him to two years of confinement with serving the sentence in a general regime penal colony [28]. The judge decreed that a leaflet, which Levaneuski had distributed prior to demonstrations on 1 May 2004, contains a public insult to the President (since Alexander Lukashenko
is known to have spent his holidays in Austria).
On 16 September 2004 European Parliament
calls on the Belarus authorities to release immediately Valery Levaneuski and all other imprisoned political opponents of the regime.
On 2 June 2005 State Department calls on Belarus authorities to release Valery Levaneuski and all other political prisoners
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
recognizes him as a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
.
Biography
Valery Levaneuski was born on 15 August 1963 in Grodno in a large family.In 1979, candidate for master of sports boxing.
In 1980 began working career with work as a fitter in mechanical workshops.
From 1980 to 1982 served in the Soviet Armed Forces
Soviet Armed Forces
The Soviet Armed Forces, also called the Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Armed Forces of the Soviet Union refers to the armed forces of the Russian SFSR , and Soviet Union from their beginnings in the...
. Expert of Soviet and Bulgarian Army.
1985 - 1991 – adjuster of radio electronics, mechanic of control and measuring devices and apparatus, engineer in various Grodno enterprises.
In 1991 registered as an entrepreneur. Directed Grodno regional union for protection of taxpayers’, consumers’ and drivers’ rights, Grodno information and legal center, and Grodno consumer protection center.
Since 1996, Valery Levaneuski has been under close scrutiny by the authorities and subjected to searches, confiscation of property and questioning over various charges.
Since 1996 he leads the strike committee (so-called Stachkom) of entrepreneurs of the Republic of Belarus.
He organized numerous mass protests of entrepreneurs in the Republic of Belarus that resulted in him being fined, arrested and prosecuted. He is a founder and chief editor of the “The Employer” Republican bulletin . On numerous occasions he participated in elections as a parliamentary candidate for municipal and regional legislative bodies. Every time his registration of a candidate was denied for political reasons .
In 2001 he ran for President of the Belarus Republic . He broke the slate because of the change of legislation during the elections (Decree #20 from year 2001 ).
In 2002, the strike committee led by Levaneuski organized a strike of 120,000 small traders calling for President Lukashenko
Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has been serving as the President of Belarus since 20 July 1994. Before his career as a politician, Lukashenko worked as director of a state-owned agricultural farm. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has come to be viewed as a state whose conduct is out of line...
to be ousted and blaming him personally for the suppression of small businesses in Belarus.
In February 2003 Levaneuski was denied registration as candidate for Deputy.
From May 15, 2004 to May 15, 2006 - served sentence of imprisonment in a colony, with confiscation of property, under art. 368, part 2 of the Criminal Code (insult to the President of the Republic of Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has been serving as the President of Belarus since 20 July 1994. Before his career as a politician, Lukashenko worked as director of a state-owned agricultural farm. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has come to be viewed as a state whose conduct is out of line...
). Fully served a two-year prison sentence and was released on May 15, 2006.
2004-2006 – served sentence in form of confinement at general regime penal colony with confiscation of property in accordance with part 2, article 368 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (contempt of the President of the Belarus Republic). Valery Levaunevski could not be released on conditional discharge
Discharge
Discharge in the context to expel or to "let go" may refer to:* A military discharge, issued when a member of the armed forces is released from service* Termination of employment, the end of an employee's duration with an employer...
or on amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
. While serving his sentence in penal colonies he was penalized in form of placing into disciplinary cell, denial of relatives' visits, and also tortures
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
, threat of homicide from administration of correctional facility. All of it was for the central purpose: for him to sign the public waiver of his political activity. Valery was denied of the qualified medical assistance and medical supervision during the entire term of his imprisonment. He was not allowed to appeal sanctions of prison administration in court.
Valery Levaneuski has served his entire 2-year sentence, “done” his time “from start to finish” in various prisons and colonies , including:
- PrisonPrisonA prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
#1 of the city of Grodno - Pre-trial detention center #1, MinskMinsk- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
- Pre-trial detention center #6, BaranovichiBaranovichiBaranovichi , is a city in the Brest Province of western Belarus with a population of 173,000. It is a significant railway junction and home to a state university.-Overview:...
- Penal colony #22, “Wolf burrows”, Brest Region
- Penal colony #19, MogilevMogilevMogilev is a city in eastern Belarus, about 76 km from the border with Russia's Smolensk Oblast and 105 km from the border with Russia's Bryansk Oblast. It has more than 367,788 inhabitants...
2010 – release of a documentary “In Government’s Hindsight” dedicated to the development of strike movement of entrepreneurs in Belarus. Valery Levaneuski, main character of the film, tells about importance and dangers of having a business in Belarus. Film was a winner of the 15th All-Polish documental watch BAZAR in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
.
Arrests and searches
On July 8 2001, Levaneuski and three members of his initiative group were detained by the police while collecting voter's signatures on a parking lot near the road police station on outskirts of LidaLida
Lida is a city in western Belarus in Hrodna Voblast, situated 160 km west of Minsk. It is the fourteenth largest city in Belarus.- Etymology :...
.
29 August 2002 - Two juvenile sons of Valery Levaneuski were arrested in Mogilev
Mogilev
Mogilev is a city in eastern Belarus, about 76 km from the border with Russia's Smolensk Oblast and 105 km from the border with Russia's Bryansk Oblast. It has more than 367,788 inhabitants...
while distributing a bulletin titled "Predprinimatel" ("The Entrepreneur") among vendors at a local outdoor market.
On 11 October 2002, Valery Levaneuski was arrested in Grodno and charged with violation of Art. 167, par. 1 ("participation in mass actions violating public order") of the Belarusian Administrative Offenses Code for holding an authorized rally in protest against recent tax increases and insurance fees for small business owners.
Overnight on February 15–16, 2003 the law-enforcers raided the Grodno house of Valery Levaneuski. The raid commenced at 10.20p.m. and ended at 00.15a.m. Valery has just returned from Minsk. The night visit was carried out with certain acts of violence, applied against Valery’s elder son Dmitry. As a result of the raid was confiscated copying machine and printed production.
In April 2003, he was arrested while delivering a petition from market traders to the parliament and subsequently sentenced to 15 days' imprisonment for taking part in the "March for a Better Life" on 12 March.
On 19 September 2004 Levaneuski’s son detained at market in Lida
Lida
Lida is a city in western Belarus in Hrodna Voblast, situated 160 km west of Minsk. It is the fourteenth largest city in Belarus.- Etymology :...
for distributing news bulletin.
Criminal case
On the threshold of May 1, 2004 there were leaflets distributed in Grodno that invites citizens to participate in an approved rally on May, 1st. Leaflets also contained the following text :Because it was well known that President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has been serving as the President of Belarus since 20 July 1994. Before his career as a politician, Lukashenko worked as director of a state-owned agricultural farm. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has come to be viewed as a state whose conduct is out of line...
was spending his vacation in Austria, prosecutor’s office of Belarus has later considered it as a public insult of the President.
May 1, 2004 Levaneuski was going to participate in a demonstration in Grodno that was approved by government, but in the morning he was detained upon leaving his home. Police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officials delivered him to local police department, removed his money and passport and placed him into the temporary detention facility. Same morning Levaneuski’s children were also detained, but they were released from police department several hours later .
On May 3, 2004 Valery Levaneuski was convicted to 15-day arrest. In violation of law, he was judged not in a court house, but in the cell of the temporary detention facility .
On May 3, 2004 Uladzimir Levaneuski, son of Valery Levaneuski was convicted for 13-day arrest for active participation in the 1st May protest action.
On May 7, 2004 officials of State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
and OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
(SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
) team had broken the entrance door and entered Valery Levaneuski’s apartment. Search had lasted for six hours. All of the computers were seized along with many documents and valuables . Officials of the KGB forced Levaneuski’s underaged daughter to testify against her father . On that day and during the next few days officials from the KGB had conducted searches at Levaneuski’s relatives’ houses and in the offices of non-profit organizations that might have been part of “Insult of President” case.
On May 14, 2004, one day before expiration of 15-days of arrest, Levaneuski’s detention term was increased for three days.
On May 18, 2004 Levaneuski was indicted in accordance with part 2, article 368 of Criminal code of Belarus: “Public insult of the President of the Repiblic of Belarus, conducted by a person, previously convicted for contempt or defamation, or as an incident to accusation in committal of grave or especially grave offence”. Valery was moved from temporary detention facility into the pro-trial detention center for 2 months .
June 4, 2004, for the first time since his arrest on May 1, 2004, Valery Levaneuski was allowed to meet with his wife in pro-trial detention center .
On July 12, 2004 Levaneuski’s arrest was extended for another month .
On July 21, 2004 Levaneuski’s wife addressed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko with complaints regarding conditions of her husband’s detention in pro-trial detention center .
On July 21, 2004 criminal case under article 342 of the Criminal code of Belarus “Organization of non-authorized rally”, which provides for arrest for up to 3 years, was filed against his son Uladzimir Levaneuski .
July 21, 2004 Valery Levaneuski has declare a hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
in pre-trial detention center
July 27, 2004 Levaneuski suspend the hunger strike .
On July 28, 2004 Valery Levaneuski and his son were freed from the charges under article 342 of Criminal code of Belarus Republic (“Organization of non-authorized rally”) .
On August 1, 2004 famous Russian rock musicians Sergey Shnurov (band “Leningrad (band)
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
”) and Alexander Vasilyev (musician)
Alexander Vasiliev
Alexander Alexandrovich Vasiliev was considered the foremost authority on Byzantine history and culture in the mid-20th century. His History of the Byzantine Empire Alexander Alexandrovich Vasiliev (1867-1953) was considered the foremost authority on Byzantine history and culture in the mid-20th...
(band “Splean
Splean
Splean is a popular Russian rock band. They were formed and released their first album in 1994. Since then, they have remained one of the most popular rock bands in Russia and the former Soviet Union. The band's name is derived from "spleen" , and the "ea" spelling in English is a pun on the...
”) have held a brief for Levaneuski .
On August 16, 2004 court has extended Levaneuski’ term of arrest for another month .
On September 7, 2004 court of Leninsky District of the city of Grodno had found Valery Levaneuski guilty in public insult of the President of Belarus Republic coupled to accusation in committal of grave offence, and based on part 2, article 368 of the Criminal code of Belarus Republic sentenced him to two years of confinement with serving the sentence in a general regime penal colony [28]. The judge decreed that a leaflet, which Levaneuski had distributed prior to demonstrations on 1 May 2004, contains a public insult to the President (since Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has been serving as the President of Belarus since 20 July 1994. Before his career as a politician, Lukashenko worked as director of a state-owned agricultural farm. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has come to be viewed as a state whose conduct is out of line...
is known to have spent his holidays in Austria).
On 16 September 2004 European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
calls on the Belarus authorities to release immediately Valery Levaneuski and all other imprisoned political opponents of the regime.
On 2 June 2005 State Department calls on Belarus authorities to release Valery Levaneuski and all other political prisoners
External links
- Official site (English)
- Official site (Russian and English)
- Official Site 2 (Russian and English)
- Levonevsky says he may quit after talks with five democratic hopefuls - BelaPAN
- Vendors in Belarus launch strike action to protest tax increases, insurance fees and other regulations
- Valery Levaneuski: It is necessary to invite both the president, and opposition to Prague
- Iron man of Minsk keeps tyranny alive - Sunday Times