Student Wins Case In Court Over Perjurers In Uniform

Blogger Raman Pratasevich claimed he was taking an exam when the police “saw” him in Kurapaty.

A 3rd year student of the Faculty of Journalism of the BSU Raman Pratasevich had to bring a certificate from the university confirming he was taking an exam in the morning on February 25, and to bring his teachers to the court, to prove he really was at the university on that day.

The point is, according to the administrative charges, the policemen saw his participating in the action in Kurapaty, tut,by writes.

The trial against the blogger started back on April 10. An administrative offence record was made against Pratasevich for having participated in the non-sanctioned event in Kurapaty on February 25. The record stated that the student “actively participated in the illegal picketing at the construction site at the address Mirashnichenki Street, 49”. According to the police, he was there at 10 a.m.

However, Pratasevich brough a certificate from the dean’s office, confirming that he was taking an exam in “Language and Style of the MCT” at the Faculty of Journalism on that day. The exam lasted since 10 a.m. till 12 a.m. This appeared not sufficient and Judge Dzmitry Tsykal summoned the teachers who administered the examination from Pratasevich on February 25. They came to the court today.

Associate Professor of the department of stylistics and literary editing of journalism at the BSU Volha Horbach said that the students were preparing for an answer in the presence of teachers. The re-examination took place since 10 till 12. According to the teacher, Pratasevich was at the department until 11.30-11.40.

— Did he pass? — the judge asked.

— You know, he even got a 5. There was a term paper earlier, he got a 4 for that, he cheated. As for the exam, he probably worried so he prepared well. I was even glad it wasn’t a 4.

Senior Professor Marharyta Tsybulskaya also confirmed that Pratasevich was taking the exam on February 25, but she no longer remembered the exact period of time that he spent at the department.

— He was quite good, besides, he made a decent impression.

The judge retrieved to the advisory room, and when he returned he stated that the guilt of Raman Pratasevich had not been proved.

— The case on administrative violation with regard to Raman Pratasevich should be terminated due to the lack of proof.

Pratasevich’s friends and other activists in the court hall greeted the judge’s decision with applause.

Earlier, Pratasevich served 10 days of detention after the action on March 26 near the Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk.