Mauchanau's final statement postponed until Monday

• 5.04.2012, 11:40

The court of Zhodzina adjourned the trial against former political prisoner Alyaksandr Mauchanau until Monday.

Alyaksandr, charged with metal theft at the local forge factory, is in custody. He does not admit his guilt. An activist of For Freedom campaign, Volha Kavalyouva, visited the trial and commented on it to Radio Svaboda.

“The court heard arguments today. A prosecutor and two lawyers were speaking. One of the defendants said his final statement. Mauchanau's final statement was postponed until 10:00 am Monday and the trial was closed. It is an ordinary trial, but I think the court will dot the i's on Monday after Mauchanau's last words and pronouncing a sentence.”

Alyaksandr Mauchanau and Artsyom Ihnatikau were detained as they were collecting old rusty metal items at the abandoned unguarded land belonging to the local forge factory. Alyaksandr Mauchanau says collecting scrap metal for recycling was his way to earn his living, because he failed to find a job with a criminal record for taking part in post-election protests. Tatsyana Zyalko, who attended the trial, says:

“It was clearly seen the case was framed up. It's not worth a cent, it's evident. It is unknown what they want and what they are waiting for. They did not listen to him and postponed his final statement until Monday. The “recidivist” is just a poor little boy. His mother suffers from asthma and Parkinson's disease, his father is a bed patient. It was seen from the very first day the case is framed up. Anyway, I saw it.”