"I Am Proud That I Am Belarusian"

What did the defendants say in their last word in the "student case"?

On July 12, the defendants in the "student case" made their last remarks in court. The prosecutor's office, we recall, requested from two to two and a half years in prison for them, writes zerkalo.io.

The accused in the case are 12 people: students of the Belarusian State University Ksenia Syramalot, Yahor Kanetski, Tatstsiana Yakelchyk, Illia Trakhtenberg; BSPU students Yana Arbeika, and Kasia Budzko; expelled from BNTU Viktoryja Hrankouskaya and Anastasia Bulybenka; a student of the Academy of Arts Maryja Kalenik; MSLU student Hleb Fitzner, as well as BSUIR teacher Volha Filatchankova and Alana Gebremariam, a graduate of the medical university and representative of Tsikhanouskaya for youth and students.

The accused, according to the investigation, have developed a plan to involve students and university staff in the protest activity. All of them are charged with organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order (part 1 of article 342 of the Criminal Code). Only Hleb Finzer admitted guilt.

The prosecutor asked for 2 years and 6 months in a general regime colony for all of them and 2 years in a general regime colony for Hleb Fitzner.

On July 12, the defendants made their final remarks.

“It hurts, but I'm not afraid anymore. I went out not against the authorities but against violence "

In his last speech, Illia Trakhtenberg said that he did not agree with the accusations.

“The prosecution wants to punish me with some abstract charges and imprison me for two and a half years. The most obvious explanation for this accusation is the suppression of the protest movement in the universities. (…) High Court, I have my own convictions, the fidelity of which I will not argue. I will remain a free person because I am able to think independently and make decisions.”

Illia wished the other defendants in the case to get out of the situation, in which they became hostages. The student expects only one thing from the court - a balanced and objective decision, the "Studenkaya Dumka" Telegram channel reports.

Hleb Fitzner limited himself to the words that he admitted guilt and asked for a lenient sentence.

Volha Filatchankova spoke in Belarusian. She thanked people for the support and noted that she was glad to work in one of the best universities in the country. She also said that students are the future of our country, and she regrets that they have to leave for a while or even forever.

Volha read out the names of her relatives and thanked them for everything. At the end of the speech, he read the birthday greetings to her daughter.

“I know I did everything right. It hurts, but I'm not scared anymore. I came out not against the authorities but against violence. We are the future generation of tolerance and freedom. We are the future,” said Nastsia Bulybenka.

Yahor Kanetski refused the last word.

In her last speech, Tatstsiana Yakelchyk noted that the future belongs to the students. She asked not to deprive the accused of their liberty and to pass an acquittal for all.

Kasia Budzko said that she loves Belarus, despite the 8 months she spent in prison. In her speech, she thanked her friends and family and wished her “accomplices” strength.

Masha Kalenik said thanks to the volunteers, students of the Academy of Arts, and her family for bringing her up the way she is.

"I am grateful to everyone I have met. These 8 months could not convince me. And therefore, my last word will be 'freedom,'" said Yana Arabeika and congratulated those present on the eight months of imprisonment.

Alana Gebremariam stressed that she considers herself innocent and asked for an acquittal. About the rest of the accused, she said that "they are not villains."

“I am proud that I am Belarusian,” said Alana.

Ksiusha Syramalot asked her family to take care of themselves. She said she was proud of her parents.

“If you, the High Court, and the Republic of Belarus as a whole, which you represent, think that it is criminal to observe the Constitution, it is criminal to be a human being, I will understand any verdict,” concluded Ksiusha.

Viktoryja Hrankouskaya was very nervous and spoke with pauses:

“I want you not only to listen but also to hear what I and the guys want to convey to you. In August 2020, I was afraid and worried about my own and other people's lives. My grandmother taught me that domestic violence cannot be tolerated. Belarus is a home, Belarusians are one big family. I have not put up and will not put up with violence,” said Viktoryja.