Yuryi Rubtsov is trialed in Minsk

The trial of Homel activist, Yuryi Rubtsov continued today in the Central district court of Minsk.

According to the investigation information, the activist insulted the judge of the court of the Soviet district of Minsk, Kirill Polulech, on 28 April. It was done by calling a judge a "bastard." Judge Natalia Vojtsekhovich is in charge of the Rubtsov trial now.

Rubtsov is pledging not guilty. He says that during last trial he was criticizing the entire judicial system because all judges are dependent, they work on a contract, endure unjust sentences and "they are all bastards."

A judge Polulech said that this word was addressed to him specifically and also that Rubtsov was threatened him, saying that when released, he will find the judge and clear all things up.

Rubtsov argues that he only said that when released, he will remain an honest man, and a judge who makes an unlawful decision will fact the law.

At the last trail meeting, which took place on 16 September, there were four witnesses, namely three police officers and a court clerk.

To recall, Yuryi Rubtsov is accused of insulting the judge. On April 28, the court of the Soviet district of Minsk was looking into the administrative case of Yuri Rubtsov, who was detained during assembly "Chernobyl Way", which was authorized by the officials. During the trial Yuri Rubtsov made comments about the record of the hearing, which was conducted by a judge of the Soviet district of Minsk, Kirill Poluleh, but the court did not take them into account. Moreover, Kirill Poluleh classified the words Rubtsov as an insult.

On 5 August Yuri Rubtsov was questioned in the Soviet department of the Investigative Committee of Minsk as a suspect in a criminal case under Article 391 "Insulting a judge or a lay judge." According to the law, there are various types of punishment for insulting a judge in connection with his judicial work, namely there is a fine, corrective labor for up to two years, the arrest for a term of three to six months, or imprisonment for a term up to three years.