Finkevich fails to appeal early release rejection

The Department of Corrections has rejected a complaint from political prisoner Artur Finkevich who is serving his exile term the town of Shklou.

His lawyer Alexander Galiev made an attempt to appeal the Department's ruling which on June 4 denied the youth activist to walk out free early on suspended sentence.

The Department of Corrections justified the rejection on the grounds that the youth activist violated procedures and order of detention, etc. Artur Finkevich told the European Radio for Belarus

In the view of Finkevich, the Belarus authorities refuse to free political prisoners after the European Union has abolished trade preferences for Belarus.

Finkevich was recently transferred from the regional center of Mahioliou where he worked as a janitor at a local kindergarten. He is currently building a paper mill in Shklou.

Artur is scheduled to end his exile term in December 2007.