Militiaman Sychou was hit by another militiaman
- 18.04.2008, 11:08
Video from the rally of entrepreneurs on 190 January was shown in the Tsentralny district court of Minsk, where the trial of 14 takes place.
The court room is full with defendants, youth activists, politicians Lyavon Barshcheuski, Vyachaslau Siuchyk and others.
The defendants demand the riot militia to be expelled from the courtroom, and their friends to be allowed there. But three benches are occupied by 20 BRSM activists (BRSM is a pro-Lukashenka youth organisation). Judge Alena Illina refused to expel the BRSM activists from the courtroom, Radio Svaboda reports.
The court began to watch video. Allegedly injured militiaman Yury Sychou asked to examine the case in his absence. The judge denied. Observers think he worried the trial was longer than he expected, controversies in evidence were found out, so, wanted to avoid further questions.
The video material showed how militiamen were beating Andrei Kim. Slow motion showed that militiaman Sychou was hit by another militiaman. Sychou claims the moment of Andrei Kim’s blow wasn’t shot.
About 20 people stay near the court building. A militiaman came up to them and said the courtroom was full, called them to disperse, and gave a warning of criminal responsibility for unauthorised mass street action.
From three to five thousand people took part in the rally of entrepreneurs in the Minsk center on 10 January, organised against the presidential decree No 760. Dozens of them were detained and beaten up. 14 participants of the action were brought to criminal responsibility for riot. They are Alyaksandr Barazenka, Alyaksei Bondar, Paval Vinahradau, Artsyom Dubski, Andrei Kim, Anton Koipish, Mikhas Kryvau, Mikhas Pashkevich, Ales Straltsou, Mikhas Subach, Uladzmir Sayrheeu, Ales Charnyshou, and Tatsyana Tsishkevich.
Alyaksandr Barazenka, Paval Vinahradau, Mikhas Subach, and minor Maksim Dashuk, will have trial later. They didn’t have enough time to learn the material of the criminal case, so the trial was postponed sine die.