BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

22/11/2006

Belarusian Election Observer Released From Prison To Do Community Service

Mikalay Astreyka, a convicted election observer, was released from a correctional-labor institution in Mahilyou Oblast on November 17 to have his prison sentence replaced by community service, Belapan reported on November 20. "It happened so unexpectedly that I still feel strange. I have not yet recovered myself," Astreyka told Belapan in Minsk. Astreyka was sentenced in August to two years in prison for his role in an unregistered organization that "infringed upon the interests and rights of citizens" jointly with three other associates, who received somewhat milder punishments (see "RFE/RL Newsline," August 5, 2006). The community sentence requires Astreyka to stay at home from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., report to the local police department on a regular basis, and give 15 percent of his earnings to the government. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/11/3-cee/cee-211106.asp