43 accused in case of protests in Minsk on December 19

The case of mass riot in Minsk on December 19 is like a snowball rolling down a hill.

There are 43 accused in the case, among them 7 former presidential candidates. Three of former presidential aspirants, Andrei Sannikov, Alyaksei Mikhalevich, and Mikalai Statkevich are under arrest in the KGB jail, Viasna Human Rights Centre reports.

According to Viasna, accusations under part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal Code of Belarus have been presented today to four participants of the demonstration, Ales Kirkevich, Zmitser Drozd, Syarhei Kazakou, and Uladzimir Yaromenak.

Ales Kirkevich, a Young Front member from Hrodna, was placed in the KGB jail as a suspect in the criminal case of mass riot and later brought charges under part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (active participation in mass riot).

Zmitser Drozd, an activist of Sannikov’s election campaign, served ten days of arrest for taking part in the demonstration and on February 3, placed in custody for three days and brought charges under part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (participation in mass riot). He has been kept in a detention facility in Akrestsin Street and will be transferred either to the KGB jail or to jail in Valadarski Street.

Syarhei Kazakou, an activist of European Belarus civil campaign, on January 27, detained as a suspect in the criminal case of mass riot, has been under custody in a jail in Valadarski Street.

Uladzmir Yaromenak, an activist of Young Front, served 15 days of arrest for taking part in a solidarity action on December 20; served a 7-day arrest in a detention facility in Akrestsin Street after an interrogation in the KGB as a witness in connection with the criminal case of mass riot; it became known on January 28 that he was detained as a suspect in this case and placed under custody in the KGB jail.

Ales Kirkevich, a Young Front activist from Hrodna, served 10 days of arrest for taking part in a solidarity action on December 24; on January 28, detained as a suspect in the criminal case of mass riot.

We remind that the Prosecutor General of Belarus, Ryhor Vasilevich, said at a press conference a week ago that criminal cases of the accused of the mass riot in Minsk would be sent to court in early February.