Artur Finkevch

Artur Finkevch (February 08, 1985, Minsk) - Leader and founder of the youth movement “Young Belarus”

Biography

1987 - 1989 lived in Suhumi (Abhazia) together wit his parents. Finished school No. 135 in Minsk, then – professional technical school No. 38, specialization – master controller of meat and subproducts processing. Then studied in the International Humanitarian-Economic University, specialization – foreign affairs. In spring 2005 expelled from the university for active participation in civic and political life of the country. Since Autumn 2006 – student of the European Humanitarian University (Lithuania), specialization – “Political science. European studies”.

Activism

  • Leader and founder of the youth movement “Young Belarus” since 28.09.2008 till now
  • Member of the unregistered non-governmental civic organization Young Front (2001 - 9.10.2008)
  • Since Autumn 2008 – member of the directing board, Central and Political Council
  • Leader of the regional department (2001 - 2005)
  • Vice-Chairman on international affairs of the Young Front (March - October 2008)
  • Winner of the courses “DJ of Revival” (2001 - 2002), conducted by Paval Sevyarynets
  • MC “Belarus Show”
  • One of the Kurapaty defenders (2001 - 2002)
  • Participant and organizer of series of oppositional actions and campaigns (campaign “Belarus to Europe!” (2002)
  • Action of protest on the anniversary of the referendum of 1996 (2003)
  • Actions on October, 18-19, 2004 against fabrication of the results of the referendum
  • Action of protest against fabrication of the results of Parliamentary elections (28.09.2008)
  • Action of “St. Valentine’s Day” (2002 - 2004 and 2008)
  • Action of “Day of Freedom” (2002 - 2005 and 2008 - 2009)
  • Action of “Charnobylsky Shlyah” (2002 - 2005, 2009)
  • Actions of solidarity with political prisoners and in the memory of missing politicians (since 2005), numerous anti-Russian manifestations (since 2002) etc.
  • Participant of numerous international conferences, including YEPP, EDS, Solidarity Express etc.
  • One of the founders and member of the National Council of the Belarusian Christian Democracy
  • Headquarters coordinator of the pre-electoral block “Young Belarus” (2004)
  • Leader of the organizational committee on creating of Belarusian Trade Union of students, postgraduates and learners (2003-2005)
  • Delegate of a Congress on United Democratic Forces (2005 and 2007)
  • Member of Political Council of the United Democratic Forces (2008)
  • During the “Orange Revolution” in the Ukraine spent almost a month there, being the leader of the Young Front delegation in the quantity of fifty people
  • In August 2008 during the Georgia-Russia military conflict visited Tbilisi and Gori (Georgia)

Meetings

Had meetings with Vaclav Havel and Lech Valensa (former presidents of Czech Republic and Poland), Radaslav Sikorsky and Karel Schvarcenberg (Ministers of foreign affairs of Poland and Czech Republic), delegation of Congressmen and Senators of the United States (including Christopher Smith and Lloyd Dugget) in the end of June 2009. Signed agreements on cooperation with Lithuanian young Christian democrats, Peoples party of Georgia, Polish party “Pravo I Spravedlivosc”, Hungarian “Fidelitas” etc.

Repressions and arrests

Was arrested over 90 times by the representatives of law-enforcement authorities – militsiya and KGB. Detained more than 10 times, approximately 7 months on the whole.

On January 31, 2006 was arrested for applying pre-electoral graffiti “We want a new one!” and “Enough!”. Accused in malicious hooliganism and damaging the state property on an especially large scale, sentenced to 2 years of forced labor in the forced labor facility no. 43 in Mogilev. On October 26, 2007 was transferred to investigation prison No. 4 of Mogilev due to accusation in breaking the rules of serving the punishment.

On December 20, 2007 was sentenced to 1 year, 6 months and 15 days of imprisonment according to the article “recidivism”. On February 5, 2008 under the pressure of Belarusian society and international support was released.

Considered the prisoner of conscience by the Amnesty International. In 2004 was honored with a prize of Charter'97 in the human rights protection field “For Personal Bravery during mass manifestations”.

be-x-old:Артур Фінькевіч pl:Artur Fińkiewicz