The Trial of Maria Kolesnikava and Maksim Znak to Be Closed

The criminal case will be heard in the Minsk Regional Court on August 4th.

The criminal case against Maria Kolesnikava and Maksim Znak will be considered in the Minsk Regional Court on 4 August. This is reported by zerkalo.io concerning the headquarters of Viktar Babaryka.

The hearing of Kolesnikava and Znak starts at 11.00 a.m. on August 4th in the Minsk regional court. Address: 119a Mayakovskogo Street, Minsk.

According to the HQ, the ruling was served to the defence today. The case will be heard behind closed doors.

We shall remind you that Maria Kolesnikava and Maksim Znak are accused under three articles of the Criminal Code: part 3 Article 361 (Appeals to actions against the national security), part 1 Art. Article 357 part 1 (Conspiracy to seize state power in an unconstitutional manner), part. 1 Article 361-1 (Establishment and leadership of an extremist formation). They face up to 12 years in prison.

Maksim Znak was detained on September 9. Maria Kolesnikava has also been behind bars since early September.

Human rights activists declared Maria Kolesnikava and Maksim Znak political prisoners. The lawyers state that Znak was prosecuted in connection with his professional opinion on legal issues and implementation of fundamental rights, while Kolesnikava's actions were aimed not at causing but at preventing harm to national security.