Andrei Sannikov started to familiarize himself with case materials

Andrei Sannikov, a presidential candidate, who is charged by the regime with organizing the so-called “mass riots”, started to familiarize himself with his criminal case.

“Today we have started to become acquainted with the criminal case,” Maryna Kavaleuskaya, the lawyer of the political prisoner, said. She specified that the defendant is given up to a month to familiarize himself with the materials of the case, Interfax-Zapad reports.

“Mr Sannikov is in satisfactory condition,” M. Kavaleuskaya said.

She also clarified that the defence still had not received an answer from investigation to their application for termination of prosecution against Andrei Sannikov and for his release.

Sannikov is charged under Article 293 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (organizing mass riots). This article provides for a punishment of up to 15 years of deprivation of liberty.

We remind that on December 19, 2010 dozens of thousands Belarusians took to the streets to participate in the peaceful rally against the rigged results of the presidential election. The demonstration was broken up brutally, and the candidates for presidency and hundreds of citizens were arrested. Up till now presidential candidates Andrei Sannikov and Mikalai Statkevich, as well as dozens of pro-democracy activists, are kept behind the bars in the KGB remand prison.