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Two more ex-candidates go on trial

 

Two more rivals of Alyaksandr Lukashenka in last year's presidential election went on trial in Minsk on May 5, BelaPAN said.

Former presidential candidates Uladzimir Nyaklyayew and Vital Rymashewski are tried together with the former's campaign aides Alyaksandr Fyaduta, Syarhey Vaznyak and Andrey Dzmitryyew, as well as Anastasiya (Nasta) Palazhanka, deputy chairperson of an opposition youth organization called Malady Front. The case is heard by a judge of the Frunzenski District Court.

All of them face a charge of the "organization and preparation of actions that are in gross violation of the public order or active participation in them" under Part One of the Criminal Code's Article 342 in connection with a post-election protest staged in Minsk on December 19, 2010 and may be sentenced to up to three years in prison. Initially, they were charged with organizing mass disorder, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison under Article 293 of the Criminal Code.

Mr. Vaznyak has also been charged with giving “knowingly false evidence” under Part One of Article 401.

Andrey Sannikaw became the first ex-candidate to stand trial in connection with the post-election protest. His trial continued in the Partyzanski District Court on May 5.

The trial of two more former presidential candidates, Mikalay Statkevich and Dzmitry Uss, will begin in the Leninski District Court on May 11.