Valery Levaneuski

Valery Stanislavovich Levaneuski (Вале́рий Станисла́вович Левоне́вский, Вале́ры Станісла́вавіч Леване́ўскі, Walery Lewoniewski) is a Belarusian political and social activist, and former political prisoner.

Amnesty International recognizes him as a prisoner of conscience.

Valery Levaneuski was born on 15 August 1963 in Grodno in a large family.

In 1979, candidate for master of sports boxing.

In 1980 began working career with work as a fitter in mechanical workshops.

From 1980 to 1982 served in the Soviet Armed Forces.

Expert of Soviet and Bulgarian Army.

1985–1991 – adjuster of radio electronics, mechanic of control and measuring devices and apparatus, engineer in various Grodno enterprises.

In 1991 registered as an entrepreneur.

Directed Grodno regional union for protection of taxpayers’, consumers’ and drivers’ rights, Grodno information and legal center, and Grodno consumer protection center.

Since 1996, Valery Levaneuski has been under close scrutiny by the authorities and subjected to searches, confiscation of property and questioning over various charges.

Since 1996, he leads the strike committee (so-called Stachkom) of entrepreneurs of the Republic of Belarus.

He organized numerous mass protests of entrepreneurs in the Republic of Belarus that resulted in him being fined, arrested and prosecuted.

He is a founder and chief editor of “The Employer” Republican bulletin.

On numerous occasions he participated in elections as a parliamentary candidate for municipal and regional legislative bodies.

Every time his registration of a candidate was denied for political reasons.

In 2001, he ran for President of the Belarus Republic.

He broke the slate because of the change of legislation during the elections (Decree #20 from year 2001 ).

On 8 July 2001, Levaneuski and three members of his initiative group were detained by the police while collecting voters' signatures on a parking lot near the road police station on outskirts of Lida.

In 2002, the strike committee led by Levaneuski organized a strike of 120,000 small traders calling for President Lukashenko to be ousted and blaming him personally for the suppression of small businesses in Belarus.

29 August 2002 - Two juvenile sons of Valery Levaneuski were arrested in Mogilev while distributing a bulletin titled "Predprinimatel" ("The Entrepreneur") among vendors at a local outdoor market.

On 11 October 2002, Valery Levaneuski was arrested in Grodno and charged with violation of Art.

167, par.

1 ("participation in mass actions violating public order") of the Belarusian Administrative Offenses Code for holding an authorized rally in protest against recent tax increases and insurance fees for small business owners.

In February 2003, Levaneuski was denied registration as candidate for Deputy.

Overnight on 15–16 February 2003, the law-enforcers raided the Grodno house of Valery Levaneuski.

The raid commenced at 10.20p.m. and ended at 00.15a.m. Valery has just returned from Minsk.

From 15 May 2004 to 15 May 2006 - served sentence of imprisonment in a colony, with confiscation of property, under art.

368, part 2 of the Criminal Code (insult to the President of the Republic of Belarus).

2004-2006 – served sentence in form of confinement at general regime penal colony with confiscation of property in accordance with part 2, article 368 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (contempt of the President of the Belarus Republic).

Valery Levaunevski could not be released on conditional discharge or on amnesty.

While serving his sentence in penal colonies he was penalized in form of placing into disciplinary cell, denial of relatives' visits, and also tortures, threat of homicide from administration of correctional facility.

All of it was for the central purpose: for him to sign the public waiver of his political activity.

Valery was denied of the qualified medical assistance and medical supervision during the entire term of his imprisonment.

He was not allowed to appeal sanctions of prison administration in court.

Valery Levaneuski has served his entire 2-year sentence, “done” his time “from start to finish” in various prisons and colonies, including:

Fully served a two-year prison sentence and was released on 15 May 2006.

2010 – release of a documentary “In Government’s Hindsight” dedicated to the development of strike movement of entrepreneurs in Belarus.

Valery Levaneuski, main character of the film, tells about importance and dangers of having a business in Belarus.

Film was a winner of the 15th All-Polish documental watch BAZAR in Poznań.