Sannikov not taken to court for appeal hearing

The Minsk City Court began to hear a cassation appeal against the verdict to presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov.

Appeals against sentences to participants of the opposition rally on December 19, 2010, Aleh Hnedchyk, Uladzimir Yaromenak, Illya Vasilevich and Fyodar Mirzayanau are also heard.

Judges are Syarhei Khrypach, Viktoria Zaitsava, Volha Kamarouskaya. Prosecutor is Anton Zaharouski, BelaPAN reports.

The defendants are not present in the courtroom. A lawyer filed a motion to call Sannikov to the appeal hearing. The defence also asked to attach the report of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the presidential elections, because its evaluation of the elections contradicts the conclusions of the court.

On May 14, the Partyzanski district court of Minsk chaired by judge Natallya Chatvyartkova found Sannikov guilty of violating part 1 of article 293 of the Criminal Code (organizing mass disorders) and sentenced him to five years in a medium security penal colony.

Aleh Hnedchyk was sentenced to four years, Uladzimir Yaromenak, Illya Vasilevich and Fyodar Mirzayanau to three years in a medium security penal colony.