Verdicts to participants of post-election demonstration upheld

The terms of imprisonment and suspended sentences have not been changed.

The Minsk City Court dismissed the cassation appeals of six persons in the criminal case over December 19 protest demonstration against the rigged presidential elections – Uladzimir Loban, Andrei Fedarkevich, Dzmitry Daronin, Syarhei Kazakou, Yazuheny Sakret and Vitaly Matsukevich. The decision was taken by the appeals penal of the Minsk City Court chaired by Uladzimir Styaourka, BelaPAN reports.

The Maskouski district court of Minsk found the six persons guilty of violating part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal Code (mass disorders). Loban was sentenced to 3 years, Fedarkevich to 3.5 years, Sakret to 3 years, Kazakou to 3 years, Daronin to 3.5 years in a minimum security penal colony. Matsukevch was given three years in a maximum security penal colony.

Lawyers of the convicted say they will decide later whether they will file appeals to the Supreme Court.

The Minsk City Court also upheld verdicts to former Belarusian presidential candidate Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu and his campaign manager Andrei Dzmitryeu delivered by the Frunzenski district court of Minsk. The decision was made on July 22 by the appeals board of the Minsk City Court chaired by Syarhei Khrypach, BelaPAN informs.

On May 20, the Frunzenski district court of Minsk sentenced Nyaklyaeu and Dzmitryeu to two years’ suspended prison term.

Nyakleu called on the judges to “make the first step to fair Belarus” before they went for a discussion to pronounce a judgement.

“Everyone understands what happened on the election day: the presidential candidate was beaten by secret service officers. This is a state crime, which does not have a period of limitation. The people guilty will stand trial,” the politician said.

He emphasized that the judges had an opportunity to “remove themselves from a list of persons responsible for current events in the country and for the imprisoned youth”.