Iryna Khalip: Absurd accusation, childish terminology

A Minsk court began proceedings against journalist Iryna Khalip, the wife of presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov.

Besides, the cases against Pavel Sevyarynets and Syarhei Martseleau are also heard in the Zavadski district court.

Journalist Iryna Khalip, co-head of Belarusian Christian Democracy party Pavel Sevyarynets, and Mikalai Statkevich’s election agent Syarhei Martseleu are charged with “organizing and preparing the actions that breach public order or taking active part in these actions” (part 1 of article 342 of the Criminal Code) for their presence at a protest action against falsification of the presidential elections, they may face up to three years in prison.

Iryna Khalip, Pavel Sevyarynets, and Syarhei Martseleu were arrested on December 19, 2010 and thrown to the KGB jail. Khalip was released and taken under house arrest on January 29. Sevyarynets and Martseleu remained in custody.

Iryna Khalip said at the trial she had been an election agent of Andrei Sannikov: “I did not have other choice. I was ready to help my husband in everything. At the beginning, I gathered signatures for his proposal as a candidate, then I became one of his election agents. I personally spoke two times at election demonstration in the framework of the Electoral Code. On December 6, I spoke on the square in front of the Central Railway Station. I said that we would come on the Square on December 19. I said it on behalf of my husband and me. I said the same on December 16. I said that this day would be a day of great trial, we would have to stand and wait. Under the law and the Constitution, people have the right to express their views and opinions and the right to peaceful assembly. I my husband were not a politician, I would have come to the Square in any case. During the last few years, I have attended demonstrations as a journalist and I have performed my editor’s task. Thought I was in prison, I think I am lucky, because I could see the process from inside. This is a great luck for a journalist.”

“I said that the election may be falsified. It was not me who thought it up. It is Lukashenka who admitted that the elections were falsified, who gave a command to change the election results. We were detained unlawfully, they did not even introduce themselves. They were kicking my husband lying on the ground,” the journalist said.

Iryna said the arguments of the indictment were far-fetched and the terminology was childish, in particular provision saying her example encouraged other people in column.

Pavel Sevyarynets refused to give evidence at the trial.

“Everything I say may be used not only against me, but against others. This is not a criminal case, but a masked political one. Even Jesus Christ did not give evidence in Caesar’s court, because he knew the court was unfair. The court and investigation held me in custody, did not give me a chance to see my relatives, even to confess and take communion, that’s why I will not answer any questions. You have the video showing what I was doing,” Sevyarynets said.