Case History: Leonid Sudalenko
On 20 October 2015, the Central District Court of Gomel city ruled to return the case against the HRD back to the Department of Customs Investigation of Gomel city for the further investigation. After a certain period of time the Department attempted to start a trial again but the court refused to open a hearing as the Department had failed to correct the deficiencies in the case. After that the Department adopted a decision to close the case against the HRD under the statute of limitations.
On 14 October 2015, human rights defender Mr Leanid Sudalenko was summoned to the Department of Customs Investigation of Gomel city and informed of the charges against him. He was accused of disobeying the lawful demands of persons in the execution of their duties.
Leonid Sudalenko is the head of the Gomel city branch of the civil society association Justice Initiative, which provides victims of human rights violations with legal support. It specialises in preparing individual complaints to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. The human rights defender is a lawyer and active campaigner for the abolition of the death penalty in Belarus.
