Trial Of Rapper Tsima Belarusskikh Starts In Minsk

He faces up to five years in prison.

In 2018, the hits "Wet Sneakers" and "Forget-me-not" were heard almost from every corner. Their performer, Tsima Belarusskikh, was invited by Ivan Urgant to his show, and was interviewed by million-plus blogger Tatiana Mingalimova, tut.by writes.

In January 2021, there appeared other news: the Investigative Committee reported that the musician was arrested in one of the gambling clubs with drugs. On Friday, April 16, the attention of thousands of his fans is focused on the court of Maskouski district of Minsk. Tsima Belarusskikh is tried under part 1 of article 328 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. The punishment under this article is restriction of freedom for up to five years or imprisonment from two to five years.

Tsima Belarusskikh, or Tsimafei Marozau, had been kept under house arrest pending the trial. His trial was to begin at 10:30. The artist arrived at the court building at 10.00. He was accompanied by his defender, famous lawyer Maryja Kolesava-Hudzilina. He refused to give any comments to the press. His lawyer said that "we are in a wonderful mood".

On his way to court, he also recorded a video for his fans. In it, he thanked everyone for their support.

- Everything will be great, I'll keep you informed if possible, I'll try to tell you everything in the evening and explain everything from my point of view.

At 10.06 a group of people came to support the artist. They also refused to talk to journalists.

The people who had come to the court did not at first understand what was going on.

- They are probably trying some celebrity, - a woman at the exit of the court said in bewilderment as she noticed the crowd of journalists.

Everyone who has come to see Tsima Belarusskikh's trial enters the building one by one. At the entrance their documents are checked as it is usual in court, but there are so many people that a line has lined up at the entrance. As for journalists, only state-owned mass media and Kamsamolskaya Prauda were allowed in. The rest, as well as a small part of the support group, stay outside.

- Everyone who came to the trial of Tsima Belarusskikh, step aside, - the policeman on duty at the entrance says to the crowd.

At 10:23 a.m., a court clerk came out to the waiting people: "All the seats in the hall for the Marozau case are occupied." It means that no one else is allowed in, including journalists.

The case of Tsima Belarusskikh

We remind that 22-year-old Tsima Belarusskikh was arrested at a gambling club in Minsk at night on January 6. During the search the policemen found 0.4 grams of hashish in his possession. A powder-like substance of white color, weighing 0.03 grams, which, according to an expert opinion, is amphetamine, was also seized during the search.

A criminal case under Part 1 Article 328 of the Criminal Code was opened against the Minsk resident. He was released on bail.

The prosecutor's office sent the criminal case against the singer and his 25-year-old friend to court on March 25. According to the case materials, the guys bought more than 1.96 grams of hashish over the Internet in December and January. They used some of it at the gambling club, while the rest was found by the police.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges in full.

According to Art. 328 part 1, for the illegal possession of drugs without intent to sell, he faces restriction of liberty for up to five years or imprisonment of two to five years.