Trial of 14: judgement to be delivered 22 April
- 21.04.2008, 17:46
The forth day of the loud political trial – the trial of 14, ended with the last statements of the accused. After that judge Alena Illina suspended the trial. A judgement will be delivered at 11am 22 April in the Tsentralny district court of Minsk. The prosecutor demanded 2 years of imprisonment for Andrei Kim and restriction of liberty and correctional works for the others.
Defendant Mikhas Pashkevich said in his final speech about evidence for the prosecution, deputy chief of Minsk traffic militia M. Padbyarozkin, who had named the entrepreneurs’ rally Bacchanalia and said he had been beaten by demonstrators: “One should be attentive with words. Norms of international law are higher that national laws on holding meetings and demonstrations. People should have right for assembly and expressing their opinions.”
Friends and relatives of the defendants met this speech with applause. But the judge warned if they applauded again, all of them would be expelled from the courtroom, Radio Svaboda reports.
Youth activist Uladzimir Syarheeu said in his last word public disorder was not the events on 10 January, but the events in the country for 14 years.
Ales Straltsou noted saying his last statement “the fact demonstrators went to the traffic area was provoked by militia... People wanted to address Lukashenka not passers-by.” Straltsou also accused traffic militia officer Yury Sychou, who hit demonstrators with a rubber truncheon. Straltsou also reminded assumption of innocence and noted there were no concrete proofs of guilt of the defendants.
Ales Charnyshou pleaded he was not guilty and said he hoped for objective court decision. “I was guided by the right, guaranteed by the Constitution,” the young man said in his last word.
Mikhas Kryvau said in the last statement the trial was a shame for the country, which pretends to be named a European state. His thesis “those peoples who don’t appreciate democracy, have totalitarian systems” was met with applause again.
After that Judge Illyina put out of the court room Anatol Lyabedzka, Alyaksandr Atroshchankau and his wife, and an activist of “Initsyatyva” Valyantsin Sakalouski.
Alyaksei Bondar said that he was proud to be among the defendants, and Tastyana Tsishkevich noted that the Belarusian legal system has drifted to Soviet political trials of 1920-30ies. “A circus is taking place in the court room, and lawlessness is taking place outside,” Tsishkevich said in her final statement.
Arstyom Dubski in his statement in the court explained that people gathered on the square as they had been offered to gather on a “dog ground” all the time. And in general, as said by Artsyom, the court reminds a defense enterprise with a special pass control. “The trial is politically motivated, and has concrete paymasters,” the young activist stated with conviction.
Anton Kojpish analyzed slogans of market vendors they used during the rally. In his final statement he said that “none of them was intended against the state”. As said by the defendant, actions of the protesters on January were far more moral than the court.
Andrei Kim, a young activist, was the last to make a statement. He stayed in prison since January 21. He said in his final statement that he was not guilty, and expressed hope for a just verdict, “Nasha Niva” informs.
“My innocence has been fully confirmed by lawyers and video recordings. “What could be the good of hitting an unknown man in front of dozens of video and photo cameras?” he stressed.
After the statement of Andrei Kim Judge Alena Illyina announced a break until 11 a.m. Tuesday, when the sentence is to be pronounced.
As we have informed, today prosecutor Ramasheuski has demanded 2 years of imprisonment for Andrei Kim, accused of “violent actions against policemen”, and 2.5 years of restriction of freedom for M. Pashkevich, A. Dubski, and A. Bondar; 2 years of corrective labour at their working place for other defendants.
From 3 to 5 thousands protesters have taken part in the rally of market vendors in the center of Minsk on January 10. They protested against the presidential decree No. 760. Several dozens of protesters were detained and beaten up.