Subject: Action alert : trial of Prof.Y.I. Bandazhevsky : 13 February 2001 in Gomel
  Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 15:52:39 +0800
 From: solange

Friends,

You have been very many to write to release Prof.Y.I. Bandazhevsky from prison. He was extremely thankful for this solidarity from all over the world. After more than 1 year under house arrest, he will appear before the Supreme Court of Belarus, which moves exceptionnally to Gomel on February 13.

It would be extremely useful if you could write to the President of the Supreme Court in favour of the immediate clearing of Prof Bandazhevsky of the charges brought against him (corruption) which he has persistently denied since the beginning.

Please feel free to write your own support letter

Otherwise, you can simply cut the text between the 2 lines



paste it on your official letter-head paper,
and send it by fax to 00 375 17 227 1225
(President of the Supreme Court of Belarus)

with a copy for the lawyers to :
Institute "Belrad" attention Prof. V.B. Nesterenko
fax : 00 375 17 234 0421

or by email to nester@hmti.ac.by

Can you please send this message to your contacts and friendly listservers ?

Thank you very much for your invaluable help

Solange Fernex

President
WILPF France
114, rue de Vaugirard
75006 - Paris
fax : 00.333.89.40.78.04



To the President of the Supreme Court of Belarus
Valentin O. Sukalo
Ulitsa Lenina, 28, 220030 - Minsk, Belarus

(Place, Date)

Mr. President,

After six months in prison and more than one year under house arrest, Professor Yuri I. Bandazhevsky, an eminent physician from Belarus, specialist of the health consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe,  will be tried on February 13 in Gomel.

Nobody among those who know Professor Bandazhevsky, believes that he has accepted bribes, as his accusation says. From the beginning, he has always firmly denied those charges. The judicial procedure against him has raised shock, unbelieving, consternation and anguish among all those who are aware of the extent of the health effects of the Chernobyl catastrophe, and who appraised the scientific work of Bandazhevsky.

Basing on his very large scientific data, Professor Bandazhevsky is absolutely right in stating that Chernobyl represents a major public health problems for the victims. His data are of vital importance, as well for Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, as for all countries affected by this catastrophe and others.

If the results of Bandazhevsky's research is not taken into account, the future of the Belarussian population itself will be in danger.

The authorities of Belarus want to attract the attention and the financial and humanitarian aid of the international community in favour of the Chernobyl victims. They should listen to this scientist, whose work pays honour to Belarus. Instead, this researcher is harassed under false charges.

We believe that the three true reasons why Prof Bandazhevsky has been emprisoned are as follows :

1. Bandazhevsky warned from the danger to ingest food contaminated by radionulides (this could lead to a reduction of the production and the consuming of foodstuff from Belarus).

2. Bandazhevsky opposed some high officials, who state that there is no more serious danger due to the Chernobyl radioactive fallout

3. Bandazhevsky protested also the wrong use of public funds for the Chernobyl relief.

The ecological and scientific public opinion, all over the world, looks with great concern at the fate of Prof. Bandazhevsky. Those who harass him presently are objective allies of those who find their interest in minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe. This is why the verdict of the Supreme Court in Gomel is of such vital importance and bears such a responsibility.

Mr. President, as members of an ecological, scientific or civil/human rights organization, we write to you to ask for the full clearing of Prof Bandazhevsky of all the charges brought against him. He must become able to work again towards one of the most fundamental human rights, the right to life and to health

Signature :