Business association leader Šumčanka fined $200

November 23, BPN. A court has fined Anatol Šumčanka, the leader of the Perspektiva business association shut down by the authorities, 480 rubels (some $200), the Viasna human rights center reports.

Šumčanka was tried for disseminating “extremist content,” a charge often used to punish online commentators. Police arrested him on November 21 in Baranavičy, Brest region, where he went to be questioned as a witness.

Perspektiva defended the rights of small traders for 19 years. Its regular forums attracted up to several thousand participants, including top officials.

In July 2021, the Investigative Committee froze about 24,000 rubels in the association’s bank account. A few months later, the Supreme Court upheld the suit by the justice ministry to shut down the business association.