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Rights defenders identify 37th person charged in riot case as Artsyom Hrybko

Belarusian human rights defenders have identified another person charged over the December 19 post-election demonstration in addition to the 36 already known to them.

His name is Artsyom Hrybko. The 22-year-old man is currently held in the Minsk city police department’s detention center on Valadarskaha Street.

Mr. Hrybko was reportedly arrested in a police crackdown on a protest in Minsk’s Independence Square on the night of December 19 and served a 10-day jail sentence. He was rearrested on January 12 as a suspect in a so-called riot case that was opened following the protest.

As Interior Minister Anatol Kulyashow told reporters on Wednesday, a total of 50 people were arrested on suspicion of active involvement in the December 19 “mass riots.” As of January 26, formal charges had been brought against 37 of them. Out of the 37 people, 33 were being held in pre-trial detention centers and four were free on their own recognizance. Twelve people had suspect status.

In particular, formal charges have been brought against five former presidential candidates: Ales Mikhalevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, Vital Rymashewski, Andrey Sannikaw and Mikalay Statkevich.

Among those with suspect status are former presidential candidates Ryhor Kastusyow and Dzmitry Uss. //BelaPAN