Mikalai Statkevich: Sviataslau Baranovich’s Case Is Purely Political

The duty of every citizen is to defend those who are attacked.

On February 15, Sviataslau Baranovich’s trial started in the Maskouski district court of Minsk. He was among those who allegedly "prevented the demonstrators from being detained" after the sanctioned March of Non-Parasites in Minsk on March 15, 2017, palitviazni.info reports.

Sviataslau Baranovich was detained only on October 3, and was kept in the jail No. 1 in Minsk up to the trial. He was charged with "using violence against employees of the law-enforcement bodies" (Article 364 of the Criminal Code), although initially the case was initiated under hooliganism (Article 339 of the Criminal Code). The guy is facing an arrest for up to three months, or restriction of freedom for up to five years, or imprisonment – up to six years.

"I do not see any Sviataslau Baranovich’s guilt, – Belarusian National Congress leader Mikalai Statkevich says. – The man saw that unknown people in civilian clothes were picking a fight with young people in the street and covered up for the youth. It’s not written on policemen’s faces, where they are from, and they were without uniform. And it’s a duty of every citizen to defend those who are attacked. Therefore, this is a purely political case. First of all, we are to judge those who attack, beat and give such orders. But, I think, it will run to that later."