Political prisoner Syarhei Parsyukevich guarded by two armed policemen (Photo)

The trial over a businessman Syarhei Parsyukevich has started in the court of Maskouski district of Minsk.

There were about 20 persons in the court room. Among them were Alyaksandr Milinkevcih, a representative of the US Embassy Louis Crishock, businessmen, an affected policeman A. Dulub, political prisoner’s wife and son Dzyanis.

The political prisoner Parsyukevich sat in an iron cage, warded by two armed policemen. Parsyukevich looks off colour. Judge Ul. Audzeenka is in charge of the trial, Radio Svaboda informs.

Judge has sustained a motion of lawyer Stramkouskaya to interrogate three witnesses: Paval Vinahradau, Alyaksandar Varazhkou and Karen Akopau. On January 21 they were in the prison cell with Parsyukevich and saw how the conflict between Parsyukevioch and policeman Dulub began. Interrogation hadn’t questioned them. However, prosecutor and Dulub himself denied necessity to interrogate these witnesses.

S. Parsyukevich’s wife told before the trial that she hoped for the best, but she was anxious. The 15-year-old son Dzyanis was in despair as well.

The leader of the “For Freedom” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich said that the case was politically motivated, and its aim was to intimidate all businessmen. Market vendors from Vitsebsk arrived to the process as well. S. Parsyukevich’s mother is absent because of an illness. The court room is crammed full.

The businessman faces up to 6 years of imprisonment. He is charged with beating up an officer on duty Alyaksandr Dulub during his 15-days arrest in Akrestsin Street detention center. The businessman says that on the contrary, the officer was beating him up, and accused Parsyukevich in order to avoid accountability.

Police officer Alyaksandr Dulub

Photo by "Nasha Niva"