From accused to accusers
- 17.03.2008, 15:51
14 democratic activists targeted in the criminal case, initiated after their participation in the entrepreneurs’ action on 10 January, prepared a collective address to Prosecutor General Ryhor Vasilevich.
Human rights activist Ihar Lednik said on the press conference in Minsk, the address to the Prosecutor General required to bring to criminal responsibility the investigators, fabricated the criminal case, and stop investigation against political prisoners Andrei Kim, Syarhei Parsyukevich and other participants of the action of 10 January, and readdress the sum of damage to proper bodies, which didn’t allow the participants of the peaceful event to use their constitutional right.
Uladzimir Syarheeu, Mikhail Subach, Ales Straltsou and others think they were unlawfully accused of public disturbance and think secret agents and militiamen, who fabricated this case, should be accused.
As Uladzimir Syarheeu, one of the accused, said today, it becomes obvious after the first acquaintance with the case, the investigation has no facts proving the guilt of the accused.
“Besides of the so called proofs – photo and video materials that by no case can prove the guilt, because no concrete persons are seen on them, there are no other proofs in the case, but the case contains request of colonel lieutenant Mikhalkevich to the so called affected organisations, asking to estimate a sum of damage, caused as the result of the action of 10 January, after which the sum of 124 million Belarusian rubles appeared,” the youth activist explained his position.
What concerns the first accused person on that case, political prisoner Andrei Kim, the attached to the case video material proves his complete innocence, according to Syarheeu.
As Mikhail Subach, youth activist and individual entrepreneur, involved in the case, emphasised on the press conference, “in this situation the criminals are representatives of the authorities, because the materials of the case we saw can serve as an accusation of anybody. So we appeal to Prosecutor General to hear their version, what we violated, besides the fact, we protested against anti-constitutional decree in accordance to the Constitution.”
The presented on the press conference Andrei Kim’s mother appealed to the authorities requiring to explain such cruel treatment to her son. “They have made my son a criminal two times. He has never done anything bad to anyone, he is a devoted Christian, but they don’t release him on bail or on his own recognisance. Explain me, his mother, what awful things has he committed, that he must be kept in prison like a malicious criminal?” Tatsyana Kim asks the authorities.
According to participants of the press conference, the accusations are politically motivated and in case the democratic activists, targeted in the case, are found guilty, it will be evidence that the authorities are ready to start up criminal persecution of participants of any protest action.