Court: Public Prosecutor Claims Kasinerau Hit Policeman Statue In Head Twice

The trial against activist Viachaslau Kasinerau has started in the Maskouski district court of Minsk.

He is charged with hooliganism – in the evening on March 12, he threw a loop on the statue of the city policeman of the Russian Empire, in the center of Minsk, Solidarity writes.

Judge Aliaksandr Petrash is handling the case.

The accusation, which has been read out by Public Prosecutor Yauhen Serakou, looks quite curious. It is informed, in particular, that on March 12, Kasinerau “demonstrating his scant regard”, “deliberately threw a loop on the sculpture “Minsk policeman”, after which he “hit the sculpture in the head twice”, thus committing malicious hooliganism.

Kasinerau plead not guilty.

He has confirmed that he threw the loop of the sculpture of a policeman and explained the motive of his action. According to Kasinerau, for many days before that the police used physical force against him, his like-minded anarchists, detained them, using special equipment and even tear gas. This outraged him and he decided to express his position on this lawlessness and violence against the people.

— The police crippled me last time I was detained. No one was subjected to responsibility for that. It happened so that people were beaten at their homes. (…) People got brutally detained in the backyards, the police did not introduce themselves, people got missed until found in the police departments (…) Thus, I decided to express the position that the unpunished violence against the people today may reflect on the families of the policemen tomorrow. This is the symbolic example of violence which acts from both sides. If it is not stopped, it will threaten the entire society, — Viachaslau Kasinerau has stated in court.

The Prosecutor has asked to clarify why the youngster hit the sculpture in the head twice after this. According to the anarchist, he “completed the art image” just like an ordinary person would tap a painting after hanging it on the wall, finishing the work.

Kasinerau has also mentioned the case when another man threw a chain on the policeman’s sculpture (the media informed it allegedly was a homeless person).

— Same actions — and the man only got administrative detention, — the defendant has reminded.

The judge has asked Kasinerau whether he thought his demeanor could insult the police officers.

— I think that top officers of the law-enforcement authorities should be more worried about the violations committed by their staff (…) They should know some people disagree with what is happening under their connivance, — the anarchist has replied.

For hooliganism, according to the Belarusian Criminal Code, one faces a fine, correctional labor for up to two years, detention for up to 6 months or imprisonment for up to 3 years.

Earlier, police chief Aliaksandr Barsukou called the monument to the policeman a "sacred place."