Anarchists get from 3 to 8 years in prison

The Zavadski district court of Minsk delivered verdicts to a group of anarchists charged with a series of arsons of governmental buildings, including the Embassy of Russia in Minsk.

The court found then guilty and sentenced Ihar Alinevich to 8 years in a medium security penal colony, Mikalai Dzyadok to 4 years in a medium security penal colony, Alyaksandr Frantskevich to 3 years in a medium security penal colony, Maksim Vetkin to 4 years in an open type correctional facility (released in the courtroom), Yauhen Selivonchyk to 1.5 years in an open type correctional facility.

The trial over the anarchists started on May 18. They were accused organizing attacks on and arsons of a number of buildings, in particular holding an unauthorized anti-military action opposite the Ministry of Defence in 2009, throwing Molotov cocktails to the Embassy of Russia in Minsk and detention facility in Akrestsin Street in 2010. They were also accused of attacking Shangri La casino and the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus as well as arsons of a police station in Salihorsk, offices of Belarusbank and Bank Moskva-Minsk.

Mikalai Dzyadok, Ihar Alinevich and Alyaksandr Frantskevich did not admit their guilt; the rest defendants admitted the guilt partially.

Witnesses said at the trial they had been pressed during the investigation to make them give the required evidence.