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New Life church in Minsk defends itself in court; prayers needed

On February, 24th in court of the Moscow area of Minsk consideration of administrative business on «the New Life» church charge in environmental contamination by mineral oil began, reports New Life church Information Center. The nature protection committee of Minsk state executive committee counted about 263 million roubles (more than 93 thousand dollars USA) damage put to the nature.

By the lawyer of church Sergey Lukanin it has been stated four objections.

1. Ground tests were selected without presence of representatives of church, and even without independent witnesses - signatures under the selection certificate were put only by representatives of nature protection committee of Minsk state executive committee in this connection there is no confidence that tests were taken from church territory adjoining to the building.

2. If to assume, that the earth round church is really polluted by mineral oil the proofs are not presented of that pollution that it has occurred because of church. The given territory earlier in the industrial purposes was used by state farm of Kalinin, later (at the moment of acquisition of a building there was cow-shed church) there was not authorised city dump on which were, including, old cars, that also could promote pollution. The lawyer of church presented to court a photo of territory at the moment of acquisition of building and for today from which it is visible, how much work believers enclosed putting in order "environment".

3. The prejudiced relation of church from Minsk state executive committee in which submission there is a nature protection committee is available. For example, on a question of the lawyer of church: whether « Is it often necessary to leave with checks of territories of churches? », the negative answer followed.

4. Also Sergey Lukanin paid attention of court that since 2005 territory and since 2009 and a building of church are in the Minsk state executive committee property.

Last objection has been stated in connection with that, that, answering a court question why the question on the originator of prospective pollution has not been considered at drawing up report, the representative of nature protection committee declared, that it is not required on the developed practice of it (as it is not required also to the signature of witnesses). Ostensibly, proprietor of territory at the moment of check should always answer for the pollution. But on a question: «Then why is not the proprietor in this case accused? », the answer has not followed.

Thus, the following practice has come to light: employees of nature protection committee can at own discretion, without representatives of the proprietor of the land and without witnesses, take samples of a ground from any territory, and without finding-out of the reasons of occurrence of pollution, immediately show for payment the sums which can make hundred thousand US dollars, «for causing of a damage to environment».

Judge Elena Shylko has been obviously surprised to the heard to what character of her questions testified. , Because representatives of nature protection committee could not explain to the judge, what legal norms such "practice” rests on, it has been declared having rummaged for additional studying of the special legislation.

On renewal of judicial manufacture it will be informed in addition.

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TAGS: Belarus New Life church church building Sergey Lukanin Judge Elena Shylko persecution

[02/27/2010]

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