Five presidential candidates stand trial in Belarus today

On May 11, five Belarusian presidential candidates are to appear before judges in different courts of Minsk.

The politicians are accused in the so called criminal case over mass disorders, BelaPAN informs.

Mikalai Statkevich and Dzmitry Us stand trial in the Leninski district court. They are charged with “organizing mass disorders accompanied with violence against person, violent attacks, destruction of property and armed resistance to representatives of the authority” (part 1, article 293 of the Criminal Case).

Besides, the candidates, Alyaksandr Kvyatkeivch, Dzmitry Bulanau, Andrei Paznyak, Artsyom Hrybkou, and Alyaksandr Klaskouski are in the dock. According to investigators, they are “the most active participants of mass riot”. The former four are charged with violating part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal Code (taking part in mass riot). Klaskouski was brought charges under three articles of the Criminal Code: parts 1 and 2 of article 293 (organizing and taking part in mass riot), article 369 (insulting a lawful representative of the authorities) and article 382 (unauthorized appropriation of the title or power of an official).

The court of the Zavadski district of Minsk starts proceedings against the people involved in the criminal case over mass disorders on December 19. Iryna Khalip, the wife of presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov and a correspondent for Russian Novaya Gazeta newspaper; Pavel Sevyarynets, the campaign manager for presidential candidate Vital Rymashweuski; and Syarhei Martseleu, Mikalai Statkevich’s campaign manager, stand trial.

Initially, they were charged with organizing mass riot, but on April 4, charges against them were softened. They are now accused under part 1 of article 342 of the Criminal Code (organizing and preparing the actions that breach public order or taking active part in these actions). They may be imprisoned up to 3 years instead of 15 under the previous charges.

Besides, the courts of the Frunzenski, Partyzanski, and Maskouski districts of Minsk continue hearing the cases of the persons in the criminal case over mass disorders that began last week.

The court of the Partyzanski district hears the case of presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov and participants of a demonstration Illya Vasilevich, Aleh Hnedchyk, Fyodar Marzayanau, and Uladzimir Yaromenak. They are charged under part 1 of article 293 of the Criminal Code (organizing mass riot).

Two presidential candidates, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu and Vital Rymasheuski, as well as members of their teams Andrei Dzmitryeu, Alyaksandr Fyaduta, Anastasia Palazhanka, and Syarhei Vaznyak, stand trial in the Frunzenski district court. They are charged under part 1 of article 342 of the Criminal Code (organizing and preparing the actions that breach public order of taking active part in these actions). Vaznyak is also accused of violating part 1 of article 401 of the Criminal Code (perjury).

The court of the Maskouski district hears the case of six participants of the events on December 19, namely Dzmitry Daronin, Syarhei Kazakou, Yauheny Sakret, Andrei Fedarkevich, Uladzimir Loban and Vital Matsukevich. They are charged under part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal Code (mass riot).