Yauheni Sheuko: I was sitting on the brink of a precipice, and could be seriously injured if I fall

For Yauheni Sheuko, a wheelchair-bound invalid, lawsuit against Airport “Minsk” turned out to be successful, even if it didn’t meet all his expectations.

The claim of Yauheni Sheuko, the leader of the Republican association of wheelchair-bound disabled, for discriminatory treatment of the disabled passengers was satisfied on January 15, but only partially: the plaintiff was awarded % mln. rubles in damages. However, the claim to forbid the use of unsafe wheelchairs at the Minsk National airport was not satisfied, while it was of greatest importance for Yauheni Sheuko. “It was shocking for me to move in that wheelchair, - he says. - I was sitting on the brink of a precipice, and could have been seriously injured in case I fall”.

Yauheni Sheuko asked for 10 mln. rubles in damages and a ban on usage of a wheelchair without safety belts. Hearing of a case dragged on for more than three months – the first meeting took place as far back as October 2013.

At the court session, which took place last week, peaceful agreement was almost signed, where all the claims, including the compensation for moral damages and the obligations of the airport to use suitable wheelchairs, were mentioned. However, the counsels for the defence specified that the claims described in the peaceful agreement had to be fulfilled only under the law.

The counsel for the defence submitted a letter from the orthopaedic plant to the court, asking the plant to improve the wheelchairs they produce. But no documentary confirmation of transferring the wheelchairs for improvement was provided.

 Yauheni Sheuko is skeptical about the intentions of the specialists from the orthopaedic plant. However, he is convinced that the celebrated case started the process of improving the in-flight service for the disabled passengers. Thus, the National airport has stated about the purchase of 6 wheelchairs and the intention to buy an ambulift – the device that allows the disable passengers to board the aircraft.

In connection with the lawsuit, Uladzimir Patapenka, the chairman of the Belarusian Association of Disabled People, believes that the CEO of the National airport should have offer their apologies to Yauheni Sheuko and consider his criticism so that to save its face and avoid possible misunderstanding in the future.